10 statements, 10 answers: Ex-Giant Queen Nef (51) about himself and Gut-Behrami (32): “I didn’t have as thick a skin as Lara”

If Lara is healthy to begin with, I don’t think she will let that be taken from her. Your chances of winning the ball are very high. Firstly, Brignone should win and not finish in the top 15 – that is very unlikely. By the way, I’m sure Lara will ride a tactical race. Especially in the first run, she will not risk everything, but she will drive neatly and controlled. Then she can see where Brignone stands and make a plan for the second round. Lara has so much experience that she can do this.

I really never thought of that (laughs). It would be an honor to be succeeded by Lara. With the gigantic gold in Cortina in 2021, she was already my successor as world champion – and now she will soon be one in the World Cup too. I would like to congratulate her from the bottom of my heart because I know how complex the giant slalom can be if it doesn’t go well. And things weren’t going well for Lara for years. The way she managed to achieve the turnaround is simply amazing.

Difficult to assess. But I am extremely grateful that there was no Facebok, Twitter, Instagram or Tiktok in my time. I’m not a fan of social media at all. Posting everything anytime, anywhere – I think this is a very unhealthy development. I think it’s commendable that Lara doesn’t give a damn about it, even though she could make a lot more money doing it.

Sadly, that’s true: I didn’t care at all what others thought of me. Due to my knees, which always caused problems, I often had to cook soup myself. Like many people, I would have preferred to always train as a team! I kept hearing others whispering about me behind my back; they didn’t understand that I did it alone. That made me sad and took energy. Even when the media reported negatively about me, it did not leave me unaffected. Lara has always been much tougher. After all, these days I’m more mature and much more above it.

I have nothing to do with such comparisons about the ski generations. I also don’t think there is a greatest or greatest of all time. There are athletes who were often unrivaled in their generation, but there are always new stars.

I’ve heard that about myself over and over again. And that’s probably true, because I was very good with people and allowed my emotions to flow freely in front of the camera. That’s just my nature. You are what you are.

Of course it helps Lara that Mikaela Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova and Sofia Goggia have not ridden for a long time or even had to end the season due to their injuries. But maybe you should also ask yourself: why isn’t Lara hurt? What makes them better?

From the outside it may seem like I have overexploited my body. But that is not the case! I have had a prosthesis in my famous left knee for four years. But I am fit and healthy and still go skiing regularly with my children – without pain.

I was a completely different person from Lara and had really great and friendly relationships with some journalists. You are also great people and do your job. Sure, the journalists irritated me sometimes, but I was also annoying at times (smiles). But where is this not the case in normal life? My children and my husband also upset me sometimes, but that is completely normal.

I believe Lara is not done with her career yet – she will continue. When I hung up my skis in 2006, I definitely missed the summit descent (smiles). But does it really matter? For me, 2002 would have been too early to stop. It had to happen the way it happened. And Lara will find the right time for her too.