podcast
As young fathers in sports, a lot changes. Felix Neureuther and Linus Straßer know this from their own experience and talk about it in the BR podcast “Pizza & Fries”.
Felix Neureuther is a father of three, Linus Straßer, who is still active in the Alpine skiing circus, has had a little daughter for almost a year. An event that changed the lives of both athletes: “Your child comes into the world and then you don’t switch from one moment to the next and say: ‘Now I’m a dad and now I’m a new person’, but you “Grows with this task, with this role and it’s a very gradual process,” said Straßer in the BR podcast “Pizza & Fries.”
The birth of a child is a drastic experience because a lot of things change. “It’s hard to leave home. Nevertheless, I have a goal in mind (…) and that’s why I just have to do certain things.” Despite everything, he also draws a lot of strength from it.
Neureuther: I’m grateful for the time with the family
Neureuther can confirm this: “I became a dad for the first time in 2017. And then I tore my cruciate ligament. That means I had a lot of time to be at home. And I am extremely grateful for this time was able to spend with our little family.” After that, children number two and three came, “of course something changes. You may not notice it at the beginning when you immediately become a dad, at least that was the case for me. But when the child gets bigger, “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for you to go away because you realize that the child needs its daddy at home sometimes. And all the time.”
Straßer: “I draw a lot of strength from it”
Strasser now knows that you hardly have any time for yourself: “I’m in a very, very nice position because I’m away a lot in the winter, of course, but I have a lot of time for that in the summer, which I also use “I can divide things up myself and then draw an incredible amount of strength from my child. So that of course motivates me.”
Straßer and Neureuther also pay tribute to the mothers who have to take on an incredible amount: “I have to say, Miri, she is crazy anyway, because she has completely transitioned from competitive sports into this mother role, namely as a mother of three. And that “It’s not always so easy, but she does it because she’s a mother out of conviction. And with heart and soul,” enthuses Neureuther.
Role of mothers “is far too little valued”
Straßer can only agree with this: “I also think this role of a mother and the work of mothers is incredible. It is valued far too little.” And further: “Without my wife, I wouldn’t be able to do sport with my child. I’m aware of that too. I’m of the opinion that without a strong woman, there’s no strong man. But everyone has to find their own way works for everyone.”
In this context, grandparents also come into play, who are “extremely important,” says Neureuther. “I had an incredible relationship with my grandfather, he is still my absolute hero, my hero and my role model. Although he unfortunately died a long time ago, he is still extremely present and has had an incredible influence on me. “
Grandparents: Values are a benefit for children
Now only dad Christian is there for his children: “Now we only have my dad, who ultimately really enjoys the time with the grandchildren. And I have to say, grandparents are also very important, because of course they are “We have a lot of experience and they treat the children differently than you do as a parent, because they have a completely different task. That has a huge impact on the children and that’s why I think grandparents are incredibly important. And luckily Miri’s parents are there too.”
The grandmas and grandpas conveyed different values and see things differently. That could be a win for the little ones. For example, when it comes to material things like gifts: “I say the biggest and most important gift is the one you can give to your children or grandchildren, it’s not material things, it’s time. That’s the time you spend with them.” said Neureuther.
The most important thing about being a father: being a role model
One thing is clear: neither of them wants to turn back the clock. But everyone has to define the role of father for themselves, says Straßer: “For me it’s still like this: I think the most important thing is to completely ignore what society expects or what a man should look like today. You have to do that just with you and your family.” For Neureuther it is clear: “If you are allowed to have children, that is the greatest happiness, the most strenuous, greatest happiness that there is in this world. I believe that we simply have to be role models for our children or for the next generation.”
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Source: BR24Sport on the radio November 22nd, 2023 – 9:55 a.m
