Winter sports / skeleton pilot Jeff Bauer lives the Olympic dream
Translation
At his age, most people think of retirement rather than the climax of their own athletic careers. But Jeff Bauer, born in 1974, continues to dream of daring to plunge into a steep ice channel on a skeleton in Beijing in 2022.
Tageblatt: How does the pandemic affect preparations for Beijing 2022?
Jeff Bauer: That is a difficult question that only time can really answer. Because of the pandemic, no points will be awarded this year and all rankings are frozen. I will then see how that affects qualification in the next year.
And for you personally?
I just try to keep improving. At the beginning of November I was able to train with the Swiss in Igls and then for the first time in Altenberg with the Spanish. It is a very difficult and dangerous route with an intimidating reputation. On my first run, I also had a nasty accident in the fourth corner. Later I was able to work in Königssee with Florian Graßl, who became vice world champion there in 2004. That went very well until I tested positive for Corona and stayed in quarantine in the hotel for ten days asymptomatic. I trained in the room as much as possible and also worked in my job as an engineer.
After the vacation I recently finished a two-week block of training and competition in Altenberg. There I was able to leave five starters behind in 17th place in a strong Intercontinental Cup with world and Olympic champions. I will soon be training with the Austrians and also be a pre-starter in a World Cup with them before there are two races in Königssee. Then it’s back to Altenberg for the World Cup (on February 11th and 12th, editor).
In Beijing you would be 48 as a newcomer. What motivates you at this age?
I have been motivated since my youth in Luxembourg. I just love sports. I also enjoy traveling and being part of a team. The way to Beijing is actually just a continuation of my career as an athlete. My motivation is that I just do what I love. In other sports you can see athletes who are still competing at this age. I’m learning a lot about myself right now, my skills, my body and even skeleton are some of the best in their high thirties.
But to what extent is your age also a disadvantage?
It would be hard if I didn’t love it so much. My strength trainer Anthony Schlegel is planning the toughest workouts of my career for me and I never thought that this intensity would be possible on so many days of the week. In addition, I am training my flexibility this year. My trainer Monya Maleki is still a student, but at my age she is fascinated by the task, which is also part of her research. I’ve never been very agile, but I am more agile than ever.
You have to travel a lot. How did that get more difficult?
With all the corona tests for flights, it’s a little more difficult this year. Even if I want to go on a new track, I need a new test. And then again for one competition the next. Then the hotels will need negative tests again and I always have to have papers with me that identify me as a professional athlete.
Five quota places deleted
A few years ago you only knew a few basketball players. You have been the sporting ambassador of the Grand Duchy for years. What has changed since then?
Starting with my grandfather, who fought there in World War II, Luxembourg has always had its place in the heart of the Bauer family. He moved there with my father in the 50s. Just like my father spent ten years there with me as a teenager. As a junior, I already played for the national basketball team. With Skeleton, however, this reaches a whole new level, a much greater significance. It is a great honor to represent the country. In the world of skeleton and bobsleigh riders, I actually see myself as an ambassador for Luxembourg. A role for which I am grateful and which I take very seriously.
Is it harder to compete as an athlete in a small nation?
The biggest challenge is arguably the size of the Luxembourg skeleton team and how new the sport is here. But I am in constant contact with Heinz Thews and FLSG Association President Nadine Knepper. They follow my progress and support me where they can. Which feels really good. I was also able to find partnerships with other nations. But it would be nice to have a permanent coach, because sometimes I go to competitions without knowing whether I’ll even have a coach by my side.
How competitive is your material? After all, university centers in other nations are even researching how to improve them.
It is true that some nations have been researching their sleds for decades and manufacture exclusive sleds for their pilots. These are adapted to the individual courses and even the respective conditions. But I also invested in a very good sled that is adjustable. At the moment it is more important for me to learn the courses and lines and to improve my personal weaknesses.
In the world of skeleton and bobsleigh riders, I actually see myself as an ambassador for Luxembourg
Jeff Bauer,
How do you actually see your chances for the Olympic Games in 2022?
The international association has certainly made things more difficult by losing five quota places to just 25 participants. But I definitely believe that I have the opportunity to qualify. Especially if I keep improving like this season.
Is there already a plan for the time after that?
At the moment I’m very focused on 2022. But after that I would like to work to ensure that Skeleton continues to grow in the country. A few years ago, two students from the University of Innsbruck joined the Luxembourg team and drove their first training runs. With Covid-19 it is currently difficult to expand the team. But even after 2022, I hope that Luxembourg will continue to show its presence in international skeleton competitions.