South Tyrol TV star Birgit Nössing: “You often need a thick skin”

She chats with star soccer coach Thomas Tuchel about tactics and moves during a leisurely lunchtime walk in Paris, appears in tennis legend Boris Becker's Instagram stories and also pays a visit to Bastian Schweinsteiger in Chicago for an interview - of course : Birgit Nössing is right in the middle of sports as a reporter and presenter and not just there.

Born in Bolzano in 1982, the native of Völs discovered her passion for communicating stories at an early age. After an internship in the sports department Dolomites and studying journalism in Munich, Nössing got his start in Germany: via the station N24 she came to Sky Sports News HD , where she achieved national prominence. The 37-year-old – who is married to a man from Hamburg and lives in Munich – now works for Eurosport and ServusTV . Their core sports include tennis, alpine skiing, Nordic winter sports disciplines, football, Formula 1 and MotoGP. As a presenter, Nössing is usually there herself - and therefore has a lot to tell.

Nössing is the face of Eurosport in tennis – and not just there. © Eurosport

Birgit Nössing, you were a skier as a young lady and even took part in international races. Why didn't your sports career work out?

Birgit Nössing: “The great talent and also a bit of luck were missing (laughs). No, in the end it was a mixture of an injury – I tore my cruciate ligament – and other plans. In addition to sports, I have always been very interested in journalism. I was always excited when I watched big sporting events on television. The injury then ensured that I automatically chose journalism.”

A decision that turned out to be very successful. You had your big breakthrough at Sky in 2011. How do you get a job like this when there are said to have been around 800 applicants for just a few positions?

" Sky Sports News HD was re-founded in 2011 and was very ambitious: 18 hours of live broadcast were broadcast. That's why we were looking for many young and motivated employees. I had previously at N24 worked and therefore already has some experience in front of the camera. But the selection process was very tricky…”

What do you mean?

“Traps were specifically installed there. For example, we had to moderate a live broadcast, but were given incorrect commands and information. You then had to react with presence of mind. I definitely wasn't the best, but it was okay. I probably convinced the boss with my humor and my South Tyrolean calmness (laughs).”

Nössing in conversation with Bastian Schweinsteiger. © Instagram

For 9 years you have been meeting the big sports stars on an equal footing. Is there someone you particularly like?

“I have to say that interviews with Roger Federer are always a great experience. He is one of those people whose personality you can learn a lot about even in a short conversation. Federer always answers very detailed and cordially, even if he didn’t play the optimal match.”

Do you also have negative memories of athletes?

“As a field reporter at football games, you often need a thick skin. When players lose an important game, you can really tell they're devastated. An interview with Max Kruse remains in my memory. He had lost an all-or-nothing game with Werder Bremen and was therefore pissed off. Then I had the feeling: He was about to jump on me. That's why as a reporter you have to be a little sensitive and show empathy in such situations. In the end, you’re like someone picking at the wound.”

The woman from Völs also worked as a field reporter for a long time - here she interviews iconic trainer Christian Streich. © Instagram

Is there another anecdote that you will never forget?

“It once became dangerous at work. It was at the Nordic World Ski Jumping Championships in Innsbruck, I was standing at the moderation table with the expert Martin Schmitt. In the landing area, a ski jumper's skis came loose from the bindings, flew through the safety fence and only scraped a few meters past Schmitt's head. It all happened so quickly that we only realized afterwards how close it was.”

You have dealt with a wide variety of athletes throughout your career. Are there still some personalities you would like to get in front of the microphone?

“I would really like an interview with Hermann Maier, one of my great idols. It would also be a great thing if I could moderate a round with those skiers who have won in every World Cup discipline. So far only Marc Girardelli, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Bode Miller, Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Günther Mader have managed this. I would also like to experience the Olympic Games on site again: the emotions there are unique.”

And what about the South Tyrolean homeland? Are you following what's happening at home?

“Yes, I usually stop by home every two months and then I like to go skiing and hiking. Of course I also follow South Tyrolean sport, especially the athletes of the sports that I am mainly involved with. I am particularly enthusiastic about Jannik Sinner. What the experts say about him is impressive. He is not only talented, but also mentally very advanced. He is only at the beginning of his journey, but I believe he can make it to the top of the world.”

Questions: Thomas Debelyak

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South Tyrol TV star Birgit Nössing: “You often need a thick skin”

Alongside Markus Lanz, Birgit Nössing is South Tyrol's most famous TV face on German television. SportNews spoke to the sports presenter from Völs - and talked about special anecdotes, angry football stars and strange dangers in her job.

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