Before the Skeleton World Championships: Hermann shows her critics

For the first time in eight years, Tina Hermann will not be nominated for the Skeleton World Championships. With her World Cup victory at the weekend, the 31-year-old showed that she is still a force to be reckoned with.

An answer to non-nomination could hardly have been clearer. Tina Hermann won the Skeleton World Cup in Altenberg last Friday. And that despite the fact that the WSV Königssee athlete had suffered a severe setback just a few days earlier. The record world champion will not be in the German squad at the home World Cup next weekend.

For the first time in eight years, the 31-year-old did not qualify for the title fights. Instead, Olympic champion Hannah Neise, defending champion Susanne Krehl and Jacqueline Pfeifer will take part. Kreher and Neise were set for the World Cup after the World Cup in Sigulda. The last remaining place was decided in an internal jump-off. And here things didn’t work out for Hermann at all. The Hessian native was left behind.

Hermann ran after form

“It is extremely disappointing for me not to compete for the medals for Germany,” she said in an interview with “Mittelhessen”. The bottom line is that Hermann’s season didn’t go as planned. After her victory at the season opener in China, she missed out on a top 10 placement several times. This was followed by places nine, eleven and five as well as 14 and 15.

Nevertheless, she is the best German in the overall World Cup ranking. She is currently in third place – just 16 points behind second-placed Kim Meylemans from Belgium. The leader is the Dutchwoman Kimberley Bos.

Future uncertain

Before the victory, Hermann also had doubts – especially about how her career should continue: “There are a lot of things going through my head right now,” she told “Mittelhessen”. “The World Cup results have made me ponder even more. Now I’m trying to shake it all off for now and definitely finish this season. Then I’ll talk to a lot of people about what’s next and collect my thoughts. Tenth in one But winning the World Cup or the World Cup is not my goal.”

After the strong performance in Altenberg, the doubts should now be forgotten. However, Hermann cannot be nominated again. But with her unexpected World Cup victory she underlined her form and made it clear that she is still a force to be reckoned with.

Grotheer, Jungk and Keisinger at the start for men

There was also a stabbing among the men. Olympic champions Christopher Grotheer, Axel Jungk and Felix Keisinger will be competing at the World Championships here. The top favorite for gold is overall World Cup leader Grotheer.