“I didn’t have any symptoms, not even when I tested positive. I didn’t expect to be positive either, ”said Kriechmayr shortly after his arrival at 10:40 pm. “Of course it is bitter when you are healthy and when you feel in top shape that you are in quarantine, but unfortunately that is how it was.”
For the Super-G, unlike the downhill, participation in a training is not a prerequisite. The accreditation of the ski world band FIS for the event had been waiting for Kriechmayr for a long time after submitting a negative test. There are also paths and back doors that would enable him to take the shortened Wengen additional descent on Friday and the classic Lauberhorn descent on Saturday, according to the ÖSV. That should be decided on Thursday.
Max Franz fastest in the final Wengen training
On Wednesday, Max Franz was the fastest in the final training for the Laubernhorn descent. The Carinthian is convincing and is ready for the three speed races.
On Sunday, Kriechmayr was already negative, but the athlete must adhere to the specified quarantine period of five days, the ÖSV was informed by the state health authorities in Upper Austria and Salzburg. “Of course I would have hoped that I could get out earlier, but I also had to stick to the five days. Now, of course, I am happy that I can race there tomorrow, ”said Kriechmayr, who has an apartment in Obertauern in the St. Johann im Pongau district.
On Wednesday morning, the athlete in Austria had another coronavirus test carried out, according to ÖSV men’s head coach Andreas Puelacher. “If that is negative, we will hopefully get permission from the authorities that he can come. The time is dictated by the authorities, we really have to wait and see. There is no exception, not even for Vinc, ”said Puelacher in the afternoon. Less than two hours later, the official okay was given, and Kriechmayr traveled to Switzerland.
Participation in departures is not excluded
The door to at least one descent in Wengen is not yet closed for him. The FIS jury, which ultimately has to decide, and the coaches of the other nations are not averse to possible options, said Puelacher. “In this difficult time (…) the FIS should give an athlete, no matter where he comes from, the possibility that he could possibly go downhill. You should decide in terms of the athlete and also in terms of sport, ”emphasized the Tyrolean.