Bullying: Ski star Liensberger talks about dark times

Three medals, two gold, one bronze: Katharina Liensberger exceeded all expectations at the World Championships and has been one of the new superstars in the ski scene since the title fights in Cortina d'Ampezzo. What makes the 23-year-old from Feldkirch so strong, among other things? Your great ambition. But it hasn't always been so well received.

In “Breakfast with Me” with Ö3 presenter Claudia Stöckl, Liensberger said that she was a victim of bullying during her school days at the Schruns ski middle school. “It was really difficult for me to be in the group. I went to ski school because I wanted to ski and wanted to spend my days getting better at it. I suddenly noticed that some people didn't accept that. It wasn’t so easy to be able to consistently follow my path in there.”

In Cortina d'Ampezzo, Liensberger won gold in the slalom, among other things. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Using an example, she explained how she experienced this situation. “It was about running out. I thought the round would fit perfectly. But the others didn't want to run. I said I'll let you know when I've run her and we'll meet up afterwards. But that was not accepted. Of course I showed them a mirror somewhere. Maybe their parents just wanted them to do that and they just didn't want to. I don't know it." Thoughts of giving up everything She didn't have any friends at the ski school. “I was isolated from the class. It was really a tough time for me. My mom was extremely important and I spoke to her on the phone a lot. It got to the point where the teacher said we had to break off contact on the phone. Thank God that wasn’t the case.”

Liensberger also had thoughts of giving up everything. “I can remember a situation when I was in the third grade – the first year at the ski school. I walked there alone. Then I went down to this stream, sat down and took a breather. I got it dirty. I said to myself: There are two options now. Either I get through it or I don't. But I really wanted to go through with it. However, it was very good for me to know that it had an end.”

Liensberger is now a double world champion. Your persistence – even in these difficult times – has paid off.

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Bullying: Ski star Liensberger talks about dark times

Katharina Liensberger is a whiz kid in the ski scene. But not everything in the Austrian's life has always gone as smoothly as it currently does.

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