Schaller/Mayr

The hunt for the Olympics has begun for the figure skating duo

Livio Mayr and Sophia Schaller have already competed in the first two events of the season.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

The figure skating pair Livio Mayr/Sophia Schaller have their sights firmly set on the Olympic Games in Milan. The first two competitions of the new season have been won. Now there is an additional hurdle, but it is also an advantage.

"The Olympic qualification is getting closer and closer," says figure skater Sophia Schaller. She wants to compete with her partner Livio Mayr in Milan 2026. The first opportunity to qualify will be at the World Championships in Boston (USA) in March, for which the Salzburg duo want to qualify in the coming months. "That should be doable," says Schaller. The first competitions have already been completed, with a 15th place in New York and a ninth place in Oberstdorf. "We've made progress in terms of running, but unfortunately I had to deal with a few injuries in the summer."

However, there was an additional hurdle, which is also an advantage: Mayr is now an army athlete, which helps him financially, but keeps him from training during basic training in Graz. "I have to train a lot on my own now, but that's not so bad," says the 24-year-old. Thanks to help from the club, they can train in the Mur metropolis or in Berchtesgaden. The next competition start is therefore not until December.

Sophia's little sister Flora will be representing Austria this week at the Junior Grand Prix in Gdansk (Poland). The 17-year-old is aiming for the limit for the Junior World Championships.