Gut-Behrami has never fallen in 62 races: if she were seriously injured, she would retire

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If you don’t risk everything, you have no chance! You’ll hear this phrase over and over again while ski racing. But is it true? This does not apply to Lara Gut-Behrami (32). Of course, she often pushes herself to the limit, but the Ticino native never crosses the fine line between attack and cockiness – or at least not in such a way that she ends up in the net.

The last two World Cup races have shown that Gut-Behrami is the best even without 100 percent risk. In Cortina (It) she won the Super-G and said afterwards: “Today it was important to drive firmly and safely. It wasn’t an outing, I was aggressive. But I no longer drove the smallest radii like I used to.” Two days later, during their great triumph at Kronplatz (It), it was a similar story. “I feel so good on the skis that I can attack without taking too much risk.”

Only one crash in 129 races

Gut-Behrami knows how crucial her health is. She was seriously injured twice in her career: in 2009 to her hip and in 2017 to her left knee. After the surgeries, she learned firsthand how difficult it can be to return to the top of the world. So the question is: would she resign if she were seriously injured for the third time? Gut-Behrami does not hesitate: “Yes.” She adds: “But I don’t want to hurt myself.”

The numbers show: Gut-Behrami is rarely eliminated, but she falls even more rarely. The last time she crashed during a race was in December 2021 in St. Moritz. Since then she has completed 62 races without an accident. Looking back further, your stats are even more impressive: 129 races, one crash. Not anymore.

The weather as a spoilsport?

How Gut-Behrami does this? First, her experience means she knows exactly how much attack is needed at each point on a slope. Secondly, because of their class, almost no other ski is so central. And thirdly, thanks to her intuition, she has had a great sense of speed, turns, skis and snow since childhood.

Will this package lead them to the overall World Cup? In Soldeu (And) she was able to take over the lead from the injured Mikaela Shiffrin (28, USA) with a win. The weather should cooperate, even though nearly 4 inches of fresh snow is expected Saturday night. For Gut-Behrami this means: All traffic lights are green!

Source : Blick