“Ensign has made a giant step this winter”

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Tears instead of boundless joy. After her most successful winter to date, Nadine Fähndrich is struggling with the very last race. It should have been the absolute crowning glory, but ultimately ended in frustration.

The crystal ball is taken from her at the last moment – ​​because she was eliminated in the semifinals in Lahti (Fin). And because the Swedish team generously supports Maja Dahlqvist (28) and paves the way for her victory in the standings.

In retrospect, Fähndrich speaks of a “big disappointment”, but refrains from public criticism of her competitors. However, she can see that it was bothering her during the race. When Dahlqvist was let in by teammate Moa Ilar (25) in the aftermath of the controversial quarter-finals after breaking his stick, she thought: “Now I’ll show you!”

However, the 27-year-old was not enough for more than the semi-finals. “It’s a pity,” says cross-country legend Dario Cologna (37), the only cross-country exponent in Switzerland to have won a World Cup. In the case of de Bündner, who stepped down last year and now works as an SRF expert, there were even eight with four overall wins and four distance rating successes.

Cologna says: “Of course Dahlqvist took advantage of the strong team after the broken stick. However, Nadine had the chance in a direct duel with her in the semi-finals – and Dahlqvist triumphed athletically.”

Sauna and Japan as comfort

After missing out on the World Cup medal in Planica (Sln), it is the next big setback for Fähndrich within a month. Nevertheless, the woman from Eigenthal looks back on a winter in which she was stronger than ever. Thanks to her three sprint victories, she wrote Swiss sports history and is now the most successful cross-country skier of all time.

Cologna also emphasized: “Despite everything, it was a very good season. She took a giant step and was very consistent.” Her advancement in classical technology, in particular, would have enabled her to lead the world for so long or even set the tone.

Fähndrich is also generally “satisfied”: The ambitious athlete would not have signed for the start this season, she says with a laugh: “It can always be better.” She wants to continue working on her explosiveness, in order to better deal with difficult circumstances.

The bullet is gone. However, she achieved her goal of finishing in the top 3 of the sprint standings by finishing second. This means she can officially treat herself to her “dream sauna” for her new apartment in Knutwil LU, where she will soon be living with her boyfriend Elvis Fazliu. And: As a seasonal reward and bullet consolation, the long-awaited trip to Japan awaits them both in April, which has been postponed due to Corona.

Source : Blick