Herzog with a low start

Sprint star changes technique for Olympic dream

Vanessa Herzog wants to be one of the best speed skaters in the world again in the 500 meters.

(Bild: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB)

After preparing with the US team for the first time, speed skating queen Vanessa Herzog feels ready for the new season. However, the 29-year-old is now radically changing her take-off technique for her dream of Olympic victory at the 2026 Games: "It will take time to get it right."

"I'm incredibly fast, faster than the American women," says sprint rocket Vanessa Herzog, boarding the plane to Japan on Wednesday with a lot of confidence after what was probably the toughest preparation ever. However, the former world champion does not see herself as the favorite for the World Cup opener in two weeks' time.

After protracted disc problems, Austria's speed skating star has been trying her luck with a low start for a month: "To become an Olympic champion, you have to start the 100 meters in 10.3 seconds. I can no longer do that with the high start. In America, I started the first race in 10.9."

You can't make a huge leap of one second in speed running. You have to take mini steps.

Eisschnelllauf-Star Vanessa Herzog

Improve your start time from race to race
Even a world-class athlete like Vanessa Herzog can't master such a serious change in technique overnight: "In speed running, you can't make a huge leap of one second. You have to take mini steps. I was at 10.7 in Inzell."

The 29-year-old from Innsbruck now wants to improve her start time race by race: "It will take time to get it right. My goal is to achieve a 10.4 at the World Championships in March."

World Championship medal as a goal for the season
That's why Vanessa and her coach husband Tom Herzog are focusing their form building entirely on these title fights in Hamar, Norway: "I'm in good shape now. But the best should come at the end. I want to be in contention for the medals."