It’s a relaxed and smiling Michelle Gisin that we met in Dübendorf, during the week organized by Swiss-Ski. The double Olympic combined champion is delighted with the start of the season marked by a change of equipment.
His smile says a lot about his impatience. “I’m so excited for it to start because I realized I love racing.”, enthuses Michelle Gisin who will be at the start of the inaugural giant in Sölden on Saturday. “Training is important but after a certain age, we still did a lot. When you have a certain level, you especially enjoy the races“.
For this new season, the 28-year-old Obwalden has chosen to take on a new challenge by changing ski brands. “It was kind of the last moment for me to make such a decision in my career.”, she explains. However, with one condition: that her faithful skiman follow her in this new adventure. “It was non-negotiable. Gampi (note: Christian Gamper) is so important to me. It’s been 9 years already, I think he’s been with me and supported me for all these years. I would not have dared to make this change without him. I am very grateful to him”.
“My goal? Skiing with pleasure”
This summer, Michelle Gisin took the opportunity to spend quality time with her family and her boyfriend Luca. The routine, too little for her. “I’m not the person who can do the same program, the same training every day. I need to do a lot of different things, to have new challenges like windsurfing, sailing. It helps to regain motivation.
Motivation is also from those around her that she draws it. “The people around me are fantastic. I’m lucky they still support me. It’s not always easy with me, there are a lot of emotions, we travel the world, it’s still very special. It’s not like when you go to work and come home at night. It’s completely different we live together and for that, I’m impressed because as an athlete it’s not always easy (laughs). But we laugh a lot, that’s the key“.
After 2 dazzling seasons, Michelle Gisin admits not having set any goals. “It sounds cliché but that’s really how it is. With the change of material, we will see. Last year, I couldn’t train well because I was in bad shape (note: Michelle contracted mononucleosis and couldn’t prepare normally) and it went very well. My goal is to ski with pleasure because in the end that’s the most important thing”.
Dübendorf, Floriane Galaud