Skier Lisa Grill

Retirement? “I love skiing far too much for that”

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Salzburg ski racer Lisa Grill is working on her comeback at the Bad Hofgastein rehabilitation center. She spoke to the "Krone" about self-doubt, her love of the sport and when she hopes to be able to return to regular training.

"The world is falling apart," says Lisa Grill when she thinks back to that fateful crash in downhill training in France five weeks ago. After more than 1000 days, she had made a furious return. With three race wins in a row, the skier from Lungau had taken the lead in the European Cup rankings. Everything pointed to the 23-year-old being rewarded for the hardships she had endured since February 2021. But everything turned out differently.

Grill tore his lateral collateral ligament (torn bone), flexor tendon and another ligament. Since then, he has (once again) only been able to walk on crutches. These are in the style of ski poles. Nevertheless: "It's better now and feels a bit more normal," says Grill in an interview with "Krone" in Bad Hofgastein.

Lisa Grill in conversation with "Krone" editor Sebastian Steinbichler.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Grill: "An up and down"
She is working on her comeback at the rehab center there. However, there are no other parallels to the previous story - apart from the collaboration with fitness coach Andi Hochwimmer. "It's much more emotional and more difficult to accept, and it's still an up and down process," says the three-time 2020 junior runner-up. She often asks herself why she does it all. "There's not really an answer to that."

She has been consulting a sports psychologist in Rif for around two years. She never used to think about it. But: "As you get older, you realize that it helps to talk to someone from outside about certain things." Grill is "very grateful" for the support of her closest confidants. As she is currently unable to drive due to her injuries, her mom, sister, grandma or grandpa provide shuttle services to the Gastein Valley.

Better on skis than in kindergarten
Grill's skiing roots run deep in her family. Her parents worked as coaches at her home club, USC Mariapfarr-Weißpriach-Göriach, among others. "I just grew into it and I much preferred skiing outside than in kindergarten," the Tamsweg native remembers her beginnings.

This love has not changed to this day. Which is why Grill ultimately finds an answer to the previously unanswered question. "I just love doing it too much." Even when the world comes crashing down. If everything goes according to plan, this world will be completely restored once preparations for the season (overseas training) begin.