2023-12-18 16:13:41
Published18. December 2023, 5:13 p.m
Franziska Gritsch: Ski ace leaves the team because she loves her coach
Franziska Gritsch no longer works with the Austrian association and now travels to the races in a private team. One reason for this is love.
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Ski ace Franziska Gritsch and Florian Stengg love each other.
Because Stengg was also their coach, there was a separation from the Austrian association.
As a result, Gritsch also withdrew from the team.
IMAGO/CTK Photo
That’s what it’s about
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The ski racer Franziska Gritsch has left the Austrian team.
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This is because the association has separated from its partner, coach Florian Stengg.
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Now the two lovers continue to work together in a private team.
Racer Franziska Gritsch is leaving the Austrian ski team for personal reasons. To be more precise: She loves her coach Florian Stengg. After this became known, the association separated from the assistant coach of the technicians. “That’s not acceptable in the team. “It’s not a fair thing if a team coach has a private relationship with an athlete,” said Alpine boss Herbert Mandl in “Kurier”. As a consequence, Gritsch also withdrew and is now training in a private team – with her previous coach and Stengg.
“Always following your heart sometimes means taking new paths, often leaving your comfort zone and always taking courageous steps to follow your gut feeling and stay true,” writes the 26-year-old on Instagram. Gritsch and the private team are fulfilling a “heartfelt wish”: “We have decided together to continue pursuing this passion project.”
From now on, Gritsch will organize the race preparations and trips to the World Cup locations himself. “I have carefully considered this decision and with this step I would like to continue on the sporting path I have already taken, which I hope will provide further positive impulses for my future career,” said Gritsch.
The 26-year-old will continue to compete for Austria, but she will not be allowed to stay in the hotels where the ÖSV team is staying. She has to pay for her trainer herself as well as various training courses. The next race in Courchevel – the night slalom on Thursday will be available live from 5.45 p.m. – will be a “milestone” in her career, as she herself says.
Not vaccinated against Corona
Gritsch finished eleventh and 17th in the giant slalom in the current World Cup season, making her the best Austrian in this discipline. The Tyrolean is known for going her own way without compromise. Her career was already at a crossroads during the corona pandemic. The then 24-year-old did not get vaccinated against the virus, thereby attracting attention and anger.
In an emotional post, she wrote at the time: “Life takes us to crossroads where we have to make decisions. My decision is that I am currently not vaccinated. I think it is a very personal and individual decision and I hope that it will be accepted and respected.” At that time, Gritsch missed some World Cup races as a result.
Gritsch is still waiting for her first victory, but she has already been on a podium five times in the World Cup. In Crans Montana in February 2020 she came second in the combination.
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