Alpine Skiingthe interview
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On the columns of the "Corriere dell''Alto Adige", the first true multipurpose of blue skiing has returned to its career with an interesting parallel looking at the triumphs of the women's national team.
Tuesday 26 May 2020 5 minutes reading time
It was a blinding light in the blue team between the end of the millennium and the early 2000s, even if there was a certain Isolde Kostner who took the stage in speed and Denise Karbon joined her in giant.
Karen Putzer, despite the physical problems that have affected perhaps the best part of her career after the explosion at a very young age, was the first Italian to climb the final podium of the World Cup on a female level, with that record of points ( then beaten by Sofia Goggia and this year by Federica Brignone) which earned her, at the end of the 2002/03 season, the second place behind the unbeatable Janica Kostelic (losing that year's giant cup by just one point , in favor of Anja Paerson). Interviewed by Lorenzo Fabiano from Corriere dell''Alto Adige, the native of Nova Levante retraced her journey in the white circus, followed after retiring from studies with a degree in law and experience in the world of journalism, sent for Sky Sport already at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics (and in Sochi 2014) and then Eurosport technical commentator.
A specific question on the path taken by Federica Brignone to become a multipurpose like ... Putzer, the South Tyrolean explained that "yes, maybe I drew the line because in my time trying my hand at multiple disciplines was not normal, indeed you had to pass from one team to another. Getting second in the cup without having a team means that I wasn't bad and maybe I could have done more, but it also applies to other athletes ".
Eight wins in the maximum circuit (4 in super-g, as many in giant), the last in January 2007 in Cortina in giant, right where he got the first podium: “It was my race and that was the most beautiful victory, because it came after the hip operation when it was said that I was finished. " Another great joy was the Olympic medal, with that bronze in the Salt Lake City super-g that saw Daniela Ceccarelli win the gold, "even though with number 2 I was almost a forerunner ... but years later I am happy with that result ”, in addition to the two world pearls of Sankt Anton 2001, when it was silver in giant and bronze in the combined.
The farewell in 2009, without actually ever announcing the retirement: “I would have liked to close at the 2010 Vancouver Games, but as a fourth blue gigantist I was out of the team, without much explanation. Then I made a new life between university and other activities, in Vancouver it was a wonderful television experience. "
Locked in Lausanne by the lockdown, Karen has been working for some time on a project of the IOC athletes commission, linked to the transition of sportsmen into the world of work just like this champion who wrote pages of the history of Italian women's skiing did.
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