Mowinckel’s injury nightmare: – Will not sacrifice everything to have a long career – VG

After a good training session at the Olympic summit, the alpine star takes time for an alpine chat with NTB about the season ahead. The alpine season starts in Sölden on October 17, but it is guaranteed to go without Ragnhild Mowinckel.

When she is back with the start number on her chest is still completely in the blue. First, she must recover 100 percent after the cruciate ligament injury.

– It is time to show, the 27-year-old answers questions about when she thinks she is back.

– I am not in a hurry, but to come back during this season is definitely the plan. Coming back stronger than I was is a good goal, but we have not set any result-oriented goal yet, she continues.

Could have been an idiot

It is not many days since she came home from her first national team gathering on skis. On Instagram, she shared the experience after 283 days without skiing outdoors. At the summer ski center on Galdhøpiggen (Juvass) she got the answers she was looking for.

– I am not fast at the moment, but for me it is a progression that goes like a deep staircase with long steps. You raise the level a little, you also stay there for a while – you also raise the level a little more.

– I could have been an idiot and just “fireplace” on, but I will use the time it takes, Mowinckel says.

– Absolutely king

Not only was it good to get on the skis again, but it was also a pleasure to be back at the gathering with the national team.

– It was «completely king». There is a high level of well-being, and there are many reasons why you do this as well. There is joy in every turn, says the Molde girl.

The cruciate ligament injuries have not put a damper on the desire to continue at the top level. She’s still hungry for more, but it seems like it’s mostly up to her knee how long she’s going on.

– I will not sacrifice lives and limbs to have an incredibly long career. I have already achieved things I am incredibly proud of and happy to have experienced, says Mowinckel with two Olympic silver medals in his eyes.

Bottom of pot

The Olympic medals were won in February 2018. The following month (March 9) she won her first World Cup victory. On the day one year later, things went wrong in training before the World Cup final in Andorra. After a panic attack, it was found that a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

During training at Bjorli in November last year, the cruciate ligament broke again, almost without her noticing. The injury, which took Mowinckel to bed, was bad news.

– Then I was at the bottom of the pot. The worst was the shock, at least when you do not know that it has happened.

Thus, it was only to move back to the start, and embark on a new long rehabilitation period.

– I am very happy that it happened in a calm and controlled environment, because it says a bit about how bad it was with that knee. I’m glad it did not happen in Lake Louis at 130 miles per hour. Then the outcome could have been much worse.

Deserves it to go better

But this time, the 27-year-old seems more positive than in a long time.

– I have come further now than I did last time, and that is a positive sign. One must have a threat, or it is just to give up.

– I can not say that it will not go well at that time here either, but there are a number of factors now that have been positive, such as that I have been skiing and that things work well.

After two cruciate ligament injuries on the rap, Mowinckel hopes that she has had enough bad luck for a while.

– I hope so. I really feel like I deserve to be a little better now. But there is always a risk. At least when you come back after two cruciate ligament injuries, then you are even more exposed again.

But if everything goes as it should, we will see the buttery 27-year-old back in the World Cup this season.