The hidden winner

Verena Gasslitter had to endure a torn cruciate ligament, a broken tibia and fibula and a total of 5 operations. The promising career threatened to end before it had really begun. But the 24-year-old fought back with an iron will, never losing faith that, despite all the odds, she would make it to where she belonged: to the top of the world. At the age of 19 (!), Gasslitter won her first European Cup victory. Her ordeal began in the same year and finally came to an end in February 2020. The woman from Castelrotto slowly worked her way up, scored her first World Cup point in Bansko (Bulgaria) - and started the new season with her newfound confidence. However, this trust is not as great as it was before the injuries, says Gasslitter: “Before, I didn’t think about what could happen. I was free and just drove. There are a lot of thoughts running through my head today, but I feel like it’s getting better with each training session.” Back to old strength The Super-G bronze medalist from the 2016 Junior World Championships provided proof of this last weekend in Val d'isere. In the technically demanding Super-G, the South Tyrolean raced to 28th place, leaving 27 athletes behind her - a reward for all the hardships of the last few years. “That was of course very important. Everyone can remember the first points in a discipline. Given what I've been through, I'm extremely satisfied," says Gasslitter, who was able to get over the fact that she didn't make it into the top 30 in the downhill. “I didn’t have a good feeling, which was also due to the long waiting time that resulted from the many falls.” Her goal is to consistently finish in the points in the next Super-Gs. “And on the descent I have to implement what I already show in my main discipline,” says Gasslitter, giving the direction. The performances in the French Alps bode well for the rest of the season - and fuel hope that one of the country's greatest hopes can finally do what it does best after difficult years: ski fast.

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The hidden winner

Marta Bassino, Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia outshone everything in the Italian ski team at the start of the season - including the great story of Verena Gasslitter.

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