Gasslitter looks back: “I can be proud”

January 24th of this year, St. Anton: Verena Gasslitter cannot take part in downhill training in St. Anton because her knee is causing acute pain. “I took a break after that, the doctors removed fluid from my knee and things quickly improved,” she says. Around ten days later she was back at the start as a forerunner at the European Cup in Sarntal. But the knee didn't cooperate. The pain became worse and worse. Gasslitter then drove to Innsbruck for an examination, where the renowned knee expert Dr. Christian Hoser told her what she didn't want to hear: He suggested that the South Tyrolean resign because her knee could no longer withstand the strain.

“I'll still need the knee in 40 years and I noticed during the season that it just doesn't work anymore,” states the 25-year-old. The decision to resign is unavoidable. She still had many goals, but her knee was in a condition that no longer allowed racing. A serious injury “It is difficult to say exactly what my problems in recent years can be attributed to. But I believe that the tibia and fibula fracture are responsible for this.” Gasslitter suffered this in Argentina in 2017, around six months earlier she tore her cruciate ligament at the Super-G in Lake Louise. However, this injury did not cause any long-term after-effects, especially since she “never felt any pain” afterwards. In order to repair the current damage, a surgical procedure was considered. However, because Gasslitter received no guarantees that things would get better afterwards, she refrained from doing so.

Verena Gasslitter was repeatedly set back by injuries. © Pentaphoto

Despite the abrupt and early retirement, the speed specialist says goodbye to the ski stage with fond memories. “Of course I won’t forget the races in the European Cup (five podiums, one win, editor’s note) and at the Junior World Championships (one bronze medal, editor’s note). Just like the moments I was able to experience with the team,” Gasslitter looks back. What if? “Skiing has shaped me - even if the bad things, i.e. the constant pain in my knee, have outweighed the bad in the end.” There is inevitably a bit of melancholy about her retirement. “I still had some unfinished business to settle – and I know that a lot of things could have been possible. You could see that this year too, even though I was never really fit.” In fact, she finished in the top 10 four times in the European Cup, including fifth place in the downhill in Orcieres-Merlette. “In some ways it’s a shame, but in some ways I can also be proud,” she says.

Ski crosser Yanick Gunsch's girlfriend hasn't made any big plans for the future yet. “I still have to talk to my sports group, the Carabinieri, in Wolkenstein about what my future should look like. “Now I’m at home a lot, riding a lot and helping out my parents,” says she, a passionate equestrian who will now concentrate more on her second great passion. And she can follow her friend's career more closely - but without offering tips. “Skicross has similarities with skiing, but ultimately it is a different sport. You race against three other athletes, we race against the clock. But of course I’m excited,” said Gasslitter.

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Gasslitter looks back: “I can be proud”

At the age of 25, Verena Gasslitter has had enough of skiing. Or better: your body. And so the athlete from Castelrotto has to end her career, even though she “still has a few unfinished business”. In the following interview she talks about the reasons and her future.

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