BEAVER CREEK — American kids dream of growing up to throw the winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Austrian boys dream of winning the Hahnenkamm at Kitzbuehel, the most coveted title for a downhiller.
Hannes Reichelt experienced that in January 2014, but he was soon to be dealt devastating news: A back injury would prevent him from racing in the Sochi Olympics two weeks later.
What happened at Beaver Creek on Thursday might have helped make up for that. Reichelt won a gold medal in super-G at the world championships.
“The victory in Kitzbuehel helped me in the bad time after Kitz- buehel,” Reichelt said, struggling to express himself in English. “I needed some time to realize that I couldn’t go to the Olympics. It (sic) needs some time to recognize that I don’t have to be afraid, not coming to the Olympics.
“I can be happy that I am sitting here, healthy, because there was a big risk on my run at Kitz- buehel that I get injured really bad. I can be happy sitting here, healthy.”
He probably came here with good thoughts too. Reichelt won a World Cup super-G here in December, his third victory and fifth podium here in that discipline. He also has finished second in a downhill here.
“On this slope, it is easy for me to be fast, but at the start I was really nervous,” Reichelt said. “I say to me, ‘OK, ski aggressive and don’t say to you in the finish area that I didn’t do (everything) what I can to make a good result.’ “
