Three years ago, Austria had a picture-perfect start to the Tokyo Olympics when Anna Kiesenhofer took all the pressure off the red-white-red team with a surprise gold medal in the road race. A look at the opening weekend of the games in Paris reveals that something similar is possible this time too. It’s worth looking at this on the first weekend:
Cycling: Perhaps Austria has the best chance of winning a medal quickly in the women’s cycling time trial, which begins today at 2:30 p.m. (on ORF 1). The ÖOC is sending Anna Kiesenhofer and the World Cup third Christina Schweinberger Two women with podium ambitions are starting. The first has prepared specifically for the battle against the clock this time. “The conditions are very good,” says the 33-year-old.
She is mostly happy with the largely flat course with 150 meters of elevation from the Esplanade des Invalides over 32.4 km to the finish at Pont Alexandre III. “Overall, it suits me well. It’s a bit technical, a few fewer bends would be good, and I could do without the cobblestones (note: 300 meters).” The race will be a challenge because you also have to pay attention to the surface. The weather is an uncertain factor, it could be wet. “I love heat. 35 degrees and dry would suit me better,” says Kiesenhofer, who is still working on the right tire surface.
Schweinberger is absolutely thrilled about the course in the heart of Paris. During training, like several others on the Pont Alexandre III, she pulled out her mobile phone to film. “It’s crazy. I think it’s a once in a lifetime experience that you can do it like this,” said the 27-year-old Tyrolean.
As an outsider Felix Grossschartner today (4.30 p.m.) in his time trial. “It is unrealistic to say that I want to go for a medal, but I do think that I can compete well,” said the Marchtrenker, who would prefer a more selective course.
Things are looking better in the mountain bike competition, where U23 European Champion Laura Stigger The Tyrolean goes exactly like Mona Mitterwallner on Sunday (14.10) for the top places in cross-country.
To swim: Three years ago, Felix Auböck shed bitter tears after finishing fourth in Tokyo. That is set to change this time. After his brilliant European Championship title in Belgrade, where he beat the competition by 4.2 seconds, the Lower Austrian is considered the most promising Austrian pool swimmer at the Games in Paris. His best chance of a medal is on the very first day in the 400 meter freestyle (heats from 11; final at 8.42 p.m.). The 27-year-old is in an excellent mood. “I am in a position where I can look forward to the competition and not be afraid of how it will turn out.” Auböck recently got the finishing touches at a training camp in Calella, Spain. “We made sure that I was at the right crawl frequency right from the first meter so that I didn’t lose any time.” This should help him to beat his time from the European Championship in Belgrade. To put it into perspective: The aforementioned 3:43.24 minutes are only 3.07 seconds away from the world record set by the German Paul Biedermann in 2009.
The first Upper Austrian swimmer to jump today Bernhard Reitshammer (from 11 a.m.) over 100 m breaststroke. A semi-final appearance for the ASV Linz athlete, who missed the A limit for the games, would be a success.
Image: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH
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Image: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH
Whitewater Slalom: After finishing eighth in London 2012 and fifth in Rio 2016, Corinna Kuhnle a third attempt at an Olympic medal. “All good things come in threes,” says the kayak specialist, who has had a difficult time. “Two and a half years ago, I had complications after a corona infection,” said the former world champion. “That meant a fairly long period without training.” It was extremely difficult and exhausting to come back physically, to start training again. So she actually wanted to end her career after the 2023 European Games. “I had already finished that. But then new doors opened,” said Kuhnle, referring to new coach Mark Delaney. The 1:1 support from the Briton had a big impact on Kuhnle. “Without Mark, I would no longer be an active athlete,” says the 37-year-old, who is now bringing all her routine into play in Paris. “If I had had the experiences I had back then, I would have achieved more at the Olympic Games.” The qualification begins today at 3:50 p.m.
