Brennsteiner out early

“How much more bad luck can a person have?”

Stefan Brennsteiner's bond suddenly opened up.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Christof Birbaumer, Screenshot ORF)

There's no such thing! Because Stefan Brennsteiner's binding broke in the World Championships giant slalom, the Austrian had to bury his medal hopes early. ORF expert Hans Knauß suffered with him: "How much more bad luck can a person have?"

Stefan Brennsteiner caused the first retirement in the World Championships giant slalom in Saalbach on Friday. The ÖSV skier's binding suddenly broke in the middle of his turn - unbelievable! His medal dream was shattered after just a few gates. "I'm a bit speechless right now. All of a sudden the ski was gone, I have no idea," said the local hero, perplexed.

Knauß stunned
"How much bad luck can you have? It really makes you cry," said ORF expert Hans Knauß. At the 2018 Olympic Games, Brennsteiner suffered a torn cruciate ligament in Pyeongchang while on course for a medal. Four years later, he got on his skis in Beijing. To make matters worse, he also came fourth at the 2023 World Championships in Courchevel. "He has to get his luck back at some point, it can't be that," says Knauß.

"I'm brutally sorry for him"
From Marco Schwarz's point of view, Brennsteiner has "one of the fastest giant slalom turns": "It's an insane shame to miss out on the home World Championships like this. But I am convinced that he will get over it!" And Raphael Haaser said: "I'm brutally sorry for him!"

Help from his son
It was the highlight race for Brennsteiner. "I've thought about it again and again over the last few years. It was always my main goal to perform well here," said Brennsteiner. The bitter end was now a bitter setback - but there is support from the family: "I have a little young man at home who doesn't care about any of this. His face certainly helps!"