The Rebellion of Lisa Theresa Hauser

Now everything is just bliss and sunshine. Logical. Lisa Theresa Hauser made history for the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) with her title at the Biathlon World Championships in Slovenia. She won the mass start and had previously won silver in the pursuit race and also took second place in the mixed relay. This has never happened in Austria. The mixed team of two women and two men is particularly worth taking a closer look at, as the team consisted of three rebels. Only David Komatz is a loyal ÖSV athlete. All the others, Dunja Zdouc, Lisa-Theresa Hauser and Simon Eder, have come this far primarily because they have pursued their own philosophy for a long time with remarkable consistency. Successful rebels Eder often trains with his father Alfred, who was also a successful biathlete, away from the team and the women separated themselves when the association unnecessarily signed the Norwegian Vegard Bitnes for the women's team three years ago. Zdouc and Hauser's supervisor at the time, Sandra Flunger, who had already looked after both of them at the Saalfelden ski high school, then founded the "Biathlonschmiede" together with her protégés. A private project. The Eder team took part, especially since Flunger is Simon's cousin. Lisa-Theresa Hauser didn't want any changes at the time. She trusted Flunger and still does today. The current coach of the Swiss women is still the most important contact person for Hauser. The rebellion back then led to strange situations that are hard to believe today. If the world champion wanted to train in Hochfilzen three years ago, she had to pay for it.

Many sponsors helped at the time. Her dad financed the team bus and many small companies believed in the project. Now they have all been rewarded for their efforts. After all, the ÖSV has given up its resistance over the past few years and, above all, has given Lisa Theresa Hauser the freedom that she probably needs to become an exceptional athlete. The rebel has prevailed.

Katharina Liensberger was about to be kicked out of the ÖSV. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

It may not be a coincidence that the Austrian Ski Association always has problems with great talent. The now two-time Alpine world champion, Katharina Liensberger, was also on the verge of being thrown out because she didn't want to submit to the very strict rules of the ski pool. If the ÖSV sole ruler, President Peter Schröcksnadel, had had his way, Liensberger would probably no longer be in the team. Fortunately, the new sports director Toni Giger kept the doors open for his super talent until the last minute of a possible contract signing. Liensberger signed. All good then. Exceptional athletes need their freedom It is due to the structure of associations in general that individual athletes have problems feeling comfortable in these hierarchies. It's a top-down chain of command. Your own ways, including your own sources of income, are prevented. The main problem is that it is the great talents who are luring against the thorn. But it is these exceptional talents who make the difference. See Marcel Hirscher, who basically trained with his father in the family business. The ÖSV avoided a second Marc Girardelli case by giving Hirscher the freedom he demanded outside of the association guidelines. Born in Vorarlberg, Girardelli achieved his successes for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Father Helmut accused the ÖSV of not supporting his son enough. Marc was twelve years old at the time when the Girardellis burned all bridges to the Innsbruck ski control center.

It is sometimes a power struggle with unequal means because the associations have sovereignty over registration for World Cup races or major title fights. Anna Veith also wanted to drive a different car than her teammates. That was not compatible with the ÖSV’s contracts. Veith had to forego her well-paid contract in order not to jeopardize her starts. This is often close to the crime of blackmail. Fortunately, over the years the waves usually calm down again, although it is mainly due to the people involved in such conflicts that calm returns in the end. However, that does not mean that the rebellion was unsuccessful. Because every path outside the norm brings new insights. For all.

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The Rebellion of Lisa Theresa Hauser

Lisa Theresa Hauser wrote Austrian biathlon history with her world championship title. In order to achieve her current success, she has had to assert herself several times in the past within her own association. This fate has already befallen numerous athletes at the ÖSV.

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