Wendy Holdener made her World Cup debut in Sölden in October 2010, and attained her first podium in March 2013, a second place in slalom at Ofterschwang. In 2016, she gained her first two World Cup victories and won the crystal globe title in the combined discipline.
Women Fitness President, Namita Nayyar, joins the 2018 Olympic Champion for an illuminating chat about her journey so far and how she wishes to touches more heights in the future!
Namita Nayyar:
You made your World Cup debut in Sölden in 2010 and achieved your first podium finish in March 2013, coming second in the slalom at Ofterschwang. In 2016, you secured your first two World Cup victories and won the crystal globe title in the combined discipline. How would you describe your journey in the world of ski racing?
Wendy Holdener:
I got into ski racing gradually. Every year, I made a bit more progress – sometimes more, sometimes less. My performance levels kept on improving, not least because I was lucky enough to stay healthy.
Namita Nayyar:
What gets you excited about this sport and why? When you’re not skiing, what can we find you doing? Another sport? What would you say skiing is all about?
Wendy Holdener:
When I’m not skiing, you’ll often find me doing other sports. Ski racers benefit from being all-rounders on the sport front. I like to work on my own body. I really enjoy going swimming, either in the lake or in the sea. I’ve always loved sport, loved skiing, ever since I was a child. Becoming a ski racer has always been a dream of mine. I appreciate being able to spend a lot of time in the countryside, in the mountains. We get to see beautiful sunrises really often during our training sessions.
Full Interview Continued On Next Page
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Namita Nayyar:
There’s a role model in every sport. What athletes have inspired you the most?
Wendy Holdener:
I was a big fan of Didier Cuche. He was at his peak as a ski racer at a time when I was still able to watch ski racing regularly on TV. He inspired me a great deal with his accuracy and the hard work he put in day in, day out to become even better.
Namita Nayyar:
Physical fitness is a key essential in every sport. What comes together to make a good professional skier? What challenges might someone just starting out come across?
Wendy Holdener:
If you’re very fit, you have a better chance of staying healthy. A skiing season is always highly strenuous and requires a lot of strength. It’s important to do everything you can to get better. You’ll then find that the challenges seek you out by themselves. Being a ski racer isn’t an easy job, even if you are lucky enough to live your dream. An awful lot goes into it, such as a proper diet and recovery regime, training, fine-tuning your equipment and your obligations towards your sponsors. You have to really live for your sporting goals and enjoy doing what you do. This applies not only to skiing but also to any sport out there.
Namita Nayyar:
What diet do you like to stick to for optimum performance? What five favourite foods do you enjoy any time?
Wendy Holdener:
Of course I watch my diet, but not to the same extremes as endurance athletes in other sports, for instance. The most important thing for me is to always get enough protein. Fruit, pasta, meat, cheese and bread are among my favourite foods. Every now and then I treat myself to something sweet as well.
Namita Nayyar:
As you’re a two-time Olympian, tell us about your preparations for the Games.
Wendy Holdener:
My first Olympics went really badly for me, but the next one, most recently in Pyeongchang went very well as I won a complete set of medals. Essentially, I don’t make any special preparations for the Olympics. In other words, I don’t set out to do anything differently than in a non-Olympic season. It’s important for me to have already got some good results under my belt in the run-up to an Olympics or other major event. This means I can go to these important competitions with a lot of self-confidence.
Namita Nayyar:
Injury and pain are part and parcel of any sport. How do you go about handling them? Do you have any recovery rules you live by?
Wendy Holdener:
Unfortunately, injuries and pain are unavoidable in sport. I try to train hard and train a lot so that my body is ready and I can also reduce my risk of injury. At the same time, I’m very keen to train in the best possible way and not to risk anything if I don’t have to. If I experience any pain, I tell my support staff straight away so that they can help me and we can find a solution together. If there are some very strenuous days ahead or an upcoming competition, only one thing counts: being able to put in the best performance you can. Proper recovery is key to this. Nothing can be left to chance when you’re recovering. This is something I pay a lot of attention to – as well as healthy food and targeted physiotherapy.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you feel about your incredible social media following?
Wendy Holdener:
I think it’s cool that I have such a big fan base and so many people follow me on social media channels. I find social media exciting and like to show people snippets of my life. However, managing your social media channels also takes time. After all, you want to offer your fans added value and not simply post any old random thing. I myself follow other people on social media and very often take a look at what they’re up to. Basically, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if I reduced my social media consumption a bit.
Namita Nayyar:
“I was lucky to race from the start but then nothing went according to plan. I wasn’t able to show what I could do, which was very depressing. The pressure was on and I forgot how to enjoy skiing. But having some time away from the tour made me find my passion again, just in time!” Do you have any stress-busting tips when it gets tough?
Wendy Holdener:
I know all about that; every athlete goes through highs and lows. I get stressed too when I’m not able to showcase my full potential. It’s hard when people always place high expectations on you. I’d therefore say, no matter what sport you’re in, you have to do the best you can to focus on yourself and on what you have to do and not put too much pressure on yourself. And you must always be aware that others are struggling with these problems too.
Namita Nayyar:
What’s your goal or resolution for 2019?
Wendy Holdener:
I’ve decided to have fun, experience some cool things and spend as much time as possible with my family and friends. In other words, to have a healthy work-life balance. If you can achieve that, you’ll be fine. The most important thing always for me is to stay healthy. Without it, everything else is useless.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you have a particular skin and hair care routine to beat the challenges posed by varied weather conditions?
Wendy Holdener:
I care for my skin with a lot of moisturiser, occasionally with oil too if it’s very rough. And of course with sun cream if I need to. I don’t do much with my hair except wash it regularly. When it’s cold or wet, I often braid my hair so that it gets a bit of protection.
Namita Nayyar:
What’s your take on fitness for women and your message for our viewers?
Wendy Holdener:
I think it’s cool when women want to hit the gym and get fit, because strong women are beautiful women in my opinion. You don’t just have to be slim all the time. Speaking for myself, I’m very satisfied with my body, but sometimes I too have the feeling that one bit or the other isn’t quite so great. As a ski racer, for example, I’ve got very wide thighs. But it’s nice that not everyone looks the same. That’s why I hope that you appreciate your bodies. I also hope that you find a sport that you like and that does you good. Because it’ll make everything a lot easier.
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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 © 2018 Women Fitness