Born in Friesach in Carinthia, Nicole made her World Cup debut in March 2007. Schmidhofer competed for Austria at the 2010 Winter Olympics, but did not finish in the super-G at Whistler, her only event at the Olympics. Three years later, Schmidhofer finished in 11th place in the super-G at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming.
Her breakout World Cup season was in 2019, with three wins and three additional podiums; she won the season title in downhill and was runner-up in super-G.
Women Fitness joins the superbly ski-racer, Nicole Schmidhofer for an interesting conversation about her journey in the Olympics.
Namita Nayyar:
You made your debut in World Cup in March 2007 with a breakout World Cup season in 2019, with three wins and three additional podiums. How would you define your relentlessly journey to achieve desired goal?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
It was a journey with many ups and downs. Everything happened very fast for me. To move from the youth squad up to the national team in one year is rather rare. The years went by and yet somehow I still couldn’t get into the top 20 in Super-G or Downhill. So I got kicked out of the team in 2012. I prepared myself for the summer at my own expense and after completing performance tests I was allowed to train with the team again. The following season 2012/13 was a great one. I achieved my first podium in Super-G in Cortina d´Ampezzo and qualified for the world championship back home in Schladming. In January 2016 my progress was halted by a severe knee injury. A cruciate ligament rupture and meniscus rupture ended the season earlier that I expected. In the following comeback season, one year and 3 weeks after my knee injury, I celebrated the biggest success of my career thus far. Super-G-World Champion in St. Moritz. So I was ready for more.
The olympic season 2017/18 had started well for me with the 3rd place in the Super-G of Lake Louise, and another podium in Cortina gave me big hopes for winning a medal at the olympics. But ending up with a 12th and 18th place, the games were a huge disappointment for me. Looking back on the years from my first world cup race in 2007 to my first world cup victory in 2018, I have experienced a lot, both positive and negative. I really learned a lot from it and each of these situations were probably necessary to be able to claim number 1 status in the downhill world cup 2019 today.
Full interview is continued on next page
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All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
You said “I’ve never won three races in one year. Everything is going to plan,” after winning the season’s first two downhills at Lake Louise, Canada. What all went into you winning the Crystal Globe?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
The victories in Lake Louise were a bit surprising. I really like the track there, but I couldn’t finish a downhill in the top 15 there over the last few years. Last summer there was a change of coach, which was very important for me. I immediately had a good connection with the new coaches and was full of confidence. Physically I was able to gain some muscle mass. When you’re as small as I am, every kilo counts in downhill!
The training sessions during the fall worked out very well and we were able to make a lot of progress improving my basic speed, which I was missed a bit in the previous season. Just ahead of the Lake Louise race, during the last training camp in Copper Mountain, we were able to improve and fine-tune my equipment and so I was perfectly prepared for the season. But I couldn’t expect such a good start despite the great preparation.
Namita Nayyar:
What all goes into the practice session for the final race when it comes to physical fitness?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
On the day preceding the race my routine is core training and leg axis training for stability and a short massage to eliminate any the tiredness that may have been accumulated in my legs over the previous days.
Namita Nayyar:
How important it really is in winning a race for a sportsperson? What all goes into the making of a winner according to you?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
Winning is very important for an athlete. It is the result of many years of hard training, and experience and of all the sacrifices one has to make. A victory creates many emotions that are then simply released from within you. It is a confirmation of your decisions and your actions. A victory motivates you and gives you a lot of strength for every further step you want to take.
Namita Nayyar:
Your daily diet routine to stay fit and healthy? Your 5 anytime favourite foods?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
My day starts with a good breakfast. My lunch is adapted according to my training schedule. In between there are shakes or fruits and in the evening there will be another nutritious meal, depending on the training session.
- Porridge with nuts, fruit and mable syrup
- Steak with vegetables
- Shrimps with rice and soja sauce
- Salad with feta, nuts and „kürbiskernöl“ (styrian style pumpkin seed oil)
- Fruit (apple, mango, banana), nuts
Namita Nayyar:
Your skin and hair care routine to cope with the stresses of the sport?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
I take care of my skin a with lot of suncream to be protect from the sun.
After training I apply body-lotion so the skin doesn’t dehydrate.
Namita Nayyar:
While not training how do you love to spend your time?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
I try to spend my time with my family and friends. I also play the drums in Musikverein Schönberg-Lachtal, it is my biggest hobby outside of sport.
Namita Nayyar:
Your Inspirational role model (s)? Why?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
I never really had a role model. I don’t want to copy or imitate anybody, I want to do my own thing. But of course there are people from whom I learned a lot, and there’s people I received advice from, or people who’s achievements made me think that one day I may like to reach similar heights.
Namita Nayyar:
Motivational Quote you have lived by all these years?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
Be grateful for what you have while you work for what you want.
Namita Nayyar:
Message for upcoming sportswomen in the field of sport, especially the one you chose? 5 qualities of a good sportsperson?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
- Believe in yourself, because if you don’t, how can someone else believe in you?!
- Fight for what you want
- Learn from mistakes
- Be open for new things
Namita Nayyar:
Message for your fans and Women Fitness viewers?
NICOLE SCHMIDHOFER:
Live your life, you won’t get a second one.
Namita Nayyar:
If it wasn’t for skiing what would you be doing today?
Nicole Schmidhofer:
If I wasn’t skiing, I’d be a physiotherapist or a masseuse.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness