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Interview by: Magdalena Kobus
The biggest sensation and stunner of the past season. A 17-year-old Austrian, Gregor Schlierenzauer, who in the course of just a few months climbed atop the ski jumping ladder becoming a top ski-star, surrounded by multitudes of fans and storming many female hearts as well. The Austrian, despite all of this glory which has become a part of his life now, remains modest and disciplined. It is definitely the first time I've met such young and at the same time such mature and professional athlete. Discussing many issues concerning his life after a big breakthrough and the plans for the future we met on a bright and sunny Saturday (25.08.07) just before the second event in Zakopane... Have an enjoyable read.
M.Kobus: Let's open up with the traditional: how do you like it here in Zakopane? What do you think about the venues and the background?
G.Schlierenzauer: It's very interesting jumping here because fans are really cool and loud (laugh). Every year I'm looking forward to jumping in Zakopane because it's so crazy to jump here. When you sit at the gate you only think : whaaaa, what is now?!? (laugh)
eSkijumping: This year's events here brought also some sensible portion of critique when it comes to the living standards here at the hotel. Do you share this opinion?
G.Schlierenzauer: Well, yeah it should be a little bit changed, I mean the hotel's standards but as for the rest, it's really OK, the hill is good and the fans are great.
eSkijumping: You've come a long way since your last Summer GP jumping here in Zakopane. How has your life changed in this past season?
G.Schlierenzauer: Well, it changed just a bit..
eSkijumping: A tiny litlle bit, ahaaa.. by becoming a ski-star actually...
G.Schlierenzauer: (laugh) Yes, that's true, it has all changed a lot. The interest put on me, the amount of fans I have all around, it all brings some sort of tensions and pressure for sure. I don't have all this privacy anymore as I used to but all in all I don't complain. There are adventages and disadventages of every situation in life.
eSkijumping: So what is the biggest disadvantage of being popular?
G.Schlierenzauer: Well.. the life is a little bit more stressful, you can't have privacy anymore but there's the love of the fans and the fact that people talk about you, write about you and you're simply in the spotlight so I guess there're more adventages than disadventages.
eSkijumping: You're a proud member of the Red Bull Team along with Adam Malysz and Thomas Morgenstern. Together you caught all of the media attention during the 4 Nations GP. How's the cooperation going on, do you take part in any promotions or actions behind the ski jumping venues?
G.Schlierenzauer: Yes, we do. There're always some incredible attractions and themes prepared for us so that we can have fun but also in some way promote Red Bull. This spring we went to Istambul with Thomas for a air-racing show. It was really cool. We also go to Formula 1 races, attend some special soccer matches. There's always something interesting planned for us.
eSkijumping: So now as we're in this nice full-summer mood tell me what are your aims for the rest of GP, you've already gone very far in the overall standings...
G.Schlierenzauer: For me the summer is not all, really. Last year, Adam won the SGP overalls and then he also won the winter. This year, Thomas Morgenstern is really good, Adam Malysz is very good, I am also not bad (laugh). Still, I think that the summer jumping is not the most important.
eSkijumping: So you seem to be a bit off track with the traditional approach. Generally there has always been this division between the Austrian and Scandinavian 'schools' of jumping. Austrians have always showed grand shape in the summer and then, well it was up and down in the winter while the Finns or Norwegians never took the summer competitions too seriously showing off in the winter season. What seemed to pay off at the turn of millennium, with Norwegian and Finnish domination, your team has recently proved wrong.. and now you say that you don't care much about the summer jumping..
G.Schlierenzauer: In some ways it is true. And you're correct with what you said but in my personal opinion you have to watch out not to jump too much in the summer so that you wouldn't be too tired in the winter. So, I don't take it too bad when something goes wrong now.
eSkijumping: How does the period between the SGP and the inauguration of the winter season look like. Do you take a slight break after GP or is it more or less consistent training and jumping?
G.Schlierenzauer: The focus is full until winter. Now we simply take it step by step and we train and jump for the winter.
eSkijumping: How about your education? You're still in high-school, how do you combine such intensive training schemes and attending competitions with your school obligations?
G.Schlierenzauer: Yeaah, I still go to school (buhuhu). Well, it's not always easy to manage this all because when you are within sport you can't go so often to school so you have to do many things individually, take exams and so on. But I don't have any bigger problems with that.
eSkijumping: I've noticed a certain peculiar pattern when it comes to your performances. You react very emotionally to every 'loss' which is meant as a non-no.1-place. Don't you think that such an over-ambitious attitude is actually that key factor which is pulling you down?
G.Schlierenzauer: Yes, maybe you're right but let me explain.. hmm, how should I explain that.. I guess that my jumps are my heart and I love jumping and I love and need to jump well and so when I don't do so well, as I expect from myself, then it's not so easy for me to get to terms with it. I am in the highest class, World Cup, there's nothing better and I just want to stay here as long as I can. But yeah, it's also kind of learning for me, when on one day I'm good and then I'm not so good, it's tough but I know I have to accept it sometimes.
eSkijumping: What are your major goals for the forthcoming winter-season? Some highlights, something that you'd really like to achieve?
G.Schlierenzauer: The Four Hills Tournament. Last year I was second so maybe this time I'll manage to get on top. There's also the focus on the World Championships in ski flying. I've never been to championships in ski flying so I'm really looking forward with 'bright eyes'..
eSkijumping: And how about the team efforts? Do you have some straight goals as a team?
G.Schlierenzauer: Yes, it's definitely to remain no.1 team and one of us with the overall trophy.
eSkijumping: There's always a lot of deliberation concerning your famous Team Spirit. Tell me, is it really so that you're a group of good friends or is it more of a special show for the audience while you remain very competitive among each other?
G.Schlierenzauer: Nooo, we have a real team spirit. I don't think we could go so far without it. It's really great fun to travel and train with guys and just like today when we have to wait so long for the competition, if there wasn't a team spirit and we weren't friends we would sit around bored or stressed, wasting away and I'm sure we wouldn't be so successful.
eSkijumping: Finally, one wish that Gregor would like to come true in the upcoming season..
G.Schlierenzauer: Hmmm, to stay healthy!
eSkijumping: Thank you.
photos: Pawel Stawowczyk and Andrzej Mysiak
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