The herniated disc suffered a month ago is no longer a problem. Manuel Feller returns on Sunday.
Zagreb / Vienna. Ski ace Manuel Feller did not want to fully trust his good feeling. “There was always a slight muscular tension that arose the last time after skiing,” said the Tyrolean, who was incapacitated by a herniated disc in early December after a training session on Friday in Lienz. Nothing should stand in the way of the World Cup comeback on Sunday in Zagreb.
“I am really happy that I am back between the bars again,” said the 27-year-old, who suffered a herniated disc in the lumbar spine a month ago during giant slalom training in Colorado. The following race was therefore out of the question for the technology specialist. He set off for Austria with great pain, where he went into the hands of specialists.
“It was of course incredibly difficult at the beginning, but then things went up very quickly,” said Feller. “The therapists and doctors did a very, very good job. It is thanks to them and my hard work that things then went up so quickly. ”
Feller worked with great ambition on his return, for which the slalom month of January had initially been given as a vague goal. At Christmas, his back was already so stable that he and his family could “do everything in everyday life as normal”. After the holidays, Feller started skiing freely, then quickly continued training at the Reiteralm between the gates.
The fact that the comeback is likely to take place on Sunday in Zagreb is not a bad timing. “In any case, I was always very, very quick,” he said with anticipation of the race on the local mountain in the Croatian capital. “It is not the most difficult terrain now, which may also be good for my first race.”
Shiffrin has his sights set on next record
Mikaela Shiffrin continues her record hunt today (1 / 4:15 p.m., live ORF1, Eurosport), in Zagreb she is fighting for her fifth slalom triumph in one place. Together with Marlies Raich, who achieved her success under the maiden name Schild, the American is the record holder with four victories in Croatia. So far, Shiffrin has won four slaloms in Levi, Aare and most recently in Killington. The World Cup leader spent the turn of the year in Austria.
Shiffrin found very good training and piste conditions in Obdach in Styria. There was no time in her busy program for an extensive New Year’s Eve this year. “I don’t actually have any fixed rituals, because I’m always on the go and training at this time.” (Ag.)
(“Die Presse”, print edition, January 4th, 2020)
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