Norway’s Olympic medalist Ragnhild Mowinckel owes her more than ten-year successful career in the alpine ski circus to Tina Weirather, who has since retired.
“When I got into the World Cup, it was a scary place for me because everyone was so incredibly strong, including Tina, but she was still very accommodating, even to completely unknown riders like me,” said Mowinckel in a double interview together with Weirather in Swiss “View”.
Today, the 30-year-old double silver medalist at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games and her ex-colleague, three years her senior, are best friends. Mowinckel even lives with Weirather and her husband Fabio in Liechtenstein’s capital Vaduz during the season.
“I feel like part of their family, they already call me a roommate. It’s my second home,” said the Norwegian.
Her homeland is “far away, it would take time and energy to always return there,” Mowinckel explained the unusual choice of quarters in winter. The multiple junior world champion enthused that her stays at the Weirather home were like a “mini vacation”. “It gives me a lot of energy.”
Alpine skiing: friendships between the athletes “rare”
However, close friendships between the alpine ski stars are not common. “You’re good with a lot of people, but it’s rare that you find someone that you’re so close to,” Weirather said.
Mowinckel added: “We don’t choose the team we travel around the world with. It’s simply the group of the best in a country. So there’s a good chance that you won’t get along great with everyone.”
According to her own statement, the fact that Weirather is now working as an expert on Swiss television after her resignation in spring 2020 does not conflict with the fact that she still maintains intensive contact with many athletes.
“So far, I don’t think I’ve ever said anything that a rider didn’t like. Sometimes I know more than I tell – then I try to at least convey this feeling,” said the nine-time World Cup winner.