The King of the Saslong will run until 2006
”I want to win an Olympic medal.” After his training on the Pitztal glacier (Austria) at the end of October, Kristian Ghedina used these words to express his intention to continue racing until 2006.
Franz Klammer, the best downhill skier of all time, and Kristian Ghedina have been the only ones to have won the race four times on the same slope, the Saslong in Val Gardena.
Due to his multiple injuries and consequently mediocre performances during the last two winter seasons, Italy’ s most famous downhill skier has thought about giving up his competitive racing career more than once. In fact, last year’ s extraordinary performance on the last jump of the “Streif” at Kitzbühel at 137,6 kph would have been an excellent way for Cortina’ s “Italjet” to bid farewell to his sporting career.
Yet for the first time, Ghedina did not feel his usual aches and pains during spring training. As a result, this sparked a new enthusiasm and drive to continue racing. “When I think about how Stephan Eberharter, who at the age of 35 dominated the downhill at last year’ s World Cup, I feel even more motivated with my 34 years! I want to be the old Ghedina again, always ready for a new victory.”
This year’ s summer preparation has been the best ever, both in the gym using weights as well as various athletic tests. During the training in South America he had the best recorded times among his companions and also won a Super G for the South American Cup (La Parve, Chile).
So far the “Italjet” has won 13 World Cup races and 3 medals for the World Championships in Saalbach, Sierra Nevada and Sestriere. According to these results, Ghedina is already Italy’ s most successful downhill skier.
