Headfirst into the intensive care unit: South Tyrol's daring Skeletoni

“You have to be a little crazy. But it is my passion,” says Manuel Schwärzer. He is one of the best skeletonis in Italy. Skeleton is a sport that developed in the same way as luge at the end of the 19th century. The name comes from the vehicle, which is reminiscent of a steel skeleton.

Lying on their stomachs and head first, the athletes race through the ice track on the skeleton sled. In the channel the pilots reach speeds of up to 145 kilometers per hour. “When it crashes, it crashes. A fall almost never ends without injury,” emphasizes Schwärzer. This is especially true because the head is always affected when a person falls. “The first thing he hits is the wall,” said the 24-year-old.

The South Tyrolean experienced firsthand how dangerous this sport can be. It was a day in March 2018: During training in the St. Moritz ice track, Schwärzer crashed headfirst into the boards at around 110km/h. The result was a serious accident, intensive care, a week-long hospital stay and long rehabilitation. The then 22-year-old did not let this discourage him. Around 4 months later he was able to get back into full training and made up the deficit through hard dry training. In the fall he fought his way back into the ice channel. “You shouldn’t have fear, you should have respect,” says Schwärzer.

Skeleton sport is his passion: Manuel Schwärzer.

In recent years he has approached the World Cup step by step. In addition to good European Cup results, he also made it into the second round of the top 2 in the World Cup: his best result is two 20th places in December 17 in Igls, and he also made it into the top 2020 in January 2019 in 18th place . However, he wants much more. “In the World Cup I would like to establish myself among the top 20 and soon have a say in the top 15 places,” said Schwärzer. He wants to go to the Olympics in 10. “That is of course the big goal of every athlete,” emphasizes the 2022-year-old from Meransen.

“I was immediately captivated by this sport” Manuel Blacker Schwärzer came to skeleton sport in 2014; previously he was active as an artificial track luger. After a rather mediocre season, toboggan legend and coach Gerda Weißensteiner gave him the idea of trying out skeleton. Said and done. “I was immediately captivated by this sport,” the powerhouse looks back.

This sport quickly became his passion. “The speed, the adrenaline. With your head just a few centimeters above the ice. In some corners you even touch the ice with your helmet,” says Schwärzer enthusiastically.

However, he currently has to take a break again. At the World Cup in Igls he sustained a thigh injury while running. “Muscle injuries can occur, especially when starting,” explains the Skeletoni. He hopes to be able to get involved again at the beginning of February and be fit for the World Cup in Altenberg so that he can also be recommended for the 2022 Olympics - headfirst, of course.

At full speed through the ice channel.

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Headfirst into the intensive care unit: South Tyrol's daring Skeletoni

Manuel Schwärzer races through the ice channel at speeds of up to 145 km/h. Lying on your stomach, head first. The 24-year-old from Meransen is a so-called Skeletoni – a skeleton pilot. A sport that has already put him in the intensive care unit.

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