Visit to the skier’s rehab clinic: Holdener was also drawn to Magglingen BE by love

Wendy Holdener (30) does not hide her fatigue. She yawns during the photo shoot. “It was late last night,” she says, smiling. What sounds like a wild party night was actually a wellness journey for the soul. Holdener watched the new comedy show “Divertimento” in Zug. “I laughed my ass off.” A welcome change from her difficult daily life with crutches. “It’s a difficult time,” she says thoughtfully.

In mid-December, the woman from Schwyz had an accident during slalom training in Pozza di Fassa (Italy). “It was the hardest fall of my career.” She flew straight into the safety nets. She suffered an injury to her ankle. Since then, her left foot has been packed in a vacuum cushion and protected by a plastic orthosis.

Until that day, she is not allowed to walk a meter without crutches. Accordingly, Holdener seems helpless in certain situations when she receives the Schweizer Illustrierte in Magglingen, high above Lake Biel. The Olympic team champion and three-time world champion is completing parts of her rehabilitation at the National Performance Center. “Can you please carry the tray for me?” Wendy Holdener asks as she enters the cafeteria. The walking aids leave her with no hands free. “Of course,” the author replies. Shortly afterwards, two apples, a glass of still water, a salad, and a plate of cheese-filled omelettes appear on the table in front of Holdener. She likes the food, but: “My mother still cooks the best.” Daniela Holdener is a trained cook and regularly spoils her daughter. Wendy Holdener is still living with her parents until her apartment in Unteriberg SZ is ready. Your favorite menu? “I can’t decide, everything is great!”

Very close to the friend

Especially in the two weeks after the fall, when the slalom specialist was only allowed to lie on the couch, eating was one of her few highlights. «After the accident I fell into a hole. I didn’t feel like doing anything for two weeks.” She was watching the Netflix series “Virgin River” on TV. An attempt to think about other things. The fan mail also contributed. Holdener received drawings, letters and even a homemade carrot cake. “It’s nice to see how many people think of me.” But the most important thing was her family. “She is always there for me.” Now she even sees something positive about the injury. “I have more time for my loved ones.”

Love is also one of the reasons why Holdener trains in Magglingen. Her boyfriend Remy Allemann lives in the Biel region and is therefore very close. “I couldn’t have done it better,” Holdener says and laughs. The ride takes less than 30 minutes. She doesn’t need a driver; your car has an automatic transmission. “At least some independence.” And the crutches weren’t just a drawback: “It’s been a while since I last washed my own clothes.”

Since her accident, Holdener has consciously kept her distance from the ski circuit. She can barely watch the women’s slalom races. “It irritates me too much that I can’t be there myself.” Yet she analyzes the fastest rides afterwards. “I want to know what the competition is doing.”

If Holdener gets her way, she’ll soon be competing against the best again. ‘I want to start in Åre.’ The races in Sweden take place on March 9 and 10 and their goal is ambitious. And typical Wendy. “I have to slow them down instead of pushing them,” explains athletics trainer Jan Seiler of the Federal Sports Office (Baspo). The two have been working together for several years. “Wendy is a grateful athlete. She always goes full throttle.” What does he mean by that? If Seiler demands 20 repetitions, the woman from Schwyz does 21. “But only because we count out loud,” jokes Baspo physiotherapist Stephan Meyer.

A special rehabilitation song

Then Seiler takes command again. “I would have it, I would have it,” he shouts across the gym. Holder grimaces. The barbell on her shoulders pushes her down. “Push, push, push, anything, Wendy!” She has to push the weight back up. Her head turns red and sweat drops. In front of her is a screen full of numbers. “I don’t understand the meaning of all these things. The most important thing is that the values ​​​​are getting better,” she says, still slightly out of breath, and getting ready for the next exercise. “I will come back stronger.”

Anyone who sees her train will not have the slightest doubt about that. The song ‘Salt and the Sea’ by The Lumineers plays in the background. A slow melody. He fits perfectly into the music concept of fitness DJ Noah Schneeberger, 35. Just like Holdener, the HC Davos player is fighting his way back from injury. “In the morning, quiet sounds dominate, but with every hour it gets wilder,” he explains. He especially likes classical music. He often plays “The Four Seasons” by composer Antonio Vivaldi.

Things could be a little brighter for Wendy Holdener. She likes hip hop. When Schneeberger searches for a song on Spotify, she shouts, “Macklemore, that’s good.” One song accompanies Holdener throughout his rehabilitation period: “Good To Be” by Mark Ambor. “It just puts you in a good mood!” Although the song has an error. “He sings about a Mercedes, but I drive an Audi.”

What happens to the crutches?

It remains to be seen how much horsepower she can generate again during her comeback. On this training day in Magglingen, she took another step towards returning as quickly as possible. And in the days that follow it will get even better: Wendy Holdener has been free of her crutches since January 24, although she still uses them for long stretches. “Now I have to learn to walk again.”

She can slowly return to work at full capacity. And especially important: “I’m already wearing my normal shoe.”

After a few days of physio and training, Holdener can walk smoothly again. “I will still need the crutches in the first few days to help me with long stretches.” And then what happens to it? “Then they usually go into the attic or I can give them away if someone needs them. Because I don’t really want me or any of us to need them anymore.”