AJ Ginnis: Unleashed Greek dances to slalom sensation

A career full of tragedies
Unchained Greek dances to the slalom sensation

Ramon Zenhauser wins the last slalom before the World Cup. That alone would be a big story. But the Swiss is only the second biggest attraction this Saturday as the entire ski scene marvels and celebrates with AJ Ginnis, whose fighting spirit is finally rewarded.

When Switzerland’s Daniel Yule crossed the finish line when a plus of 0.04 seconds flashed, AJ Ginnis immediately understood what had happened. The Greek was the biggest slalom sensation of this season, maybe even of the past few years. With the high starting number 45, he had moved up to 23rd place in the first round before he really let it rip in the final in Chamonix. The 28-year-old catapulted himself up to second place with a spectacular and courageous dance through the bars. Beaten only by another Swiss player, Ramon Zenhäusler, who was written off long ago and got himself into fantastic form in time for the World Cup. He is a contender when it comes to gold in the title fights in Meribel/Courchevel, a two-hour drive away on February 19th, which start on Monday.

That doesn’t apply to AJ Ginnis. Unlike Zenhauser, he has never won a World Cup, the Swiss now has five wins. But what does that mean? In no other discipline in skiing are triumph and tragedy so close together. Short radii, narrow gate distances, every mistake can immediately destroy all dreams. Clement Noel learned this painfully. The Frenchman threaded into Chamonix as the leader. Linus Straßer, Germany’s best slalom skier, made a mishap in Schladming and dropped out on the second pole. This time he was sixth. A good World Cup rehearsal. “Cool race, nice weather, amazing slope, nice day of skiing,” said Straßer. Sure, “the two Norwegians” so close in front of him “annoy me a bit,” he admitted, but: “I’m really into it and I’m looking forward to the World Cup.”

Ginnis spins freely

Ginnis will not think about what happens at the World Cup this Saturday. This Saturday is his. And the emotions broke unchecked over him. When he knew he was on the podium, he leapt completely unleashed from the leader’s hot seat, over a perimeter straight into the arms of his jubilant team. The reward for a story full of setbacks, full of fighting spirit, a heroic story as Americans like it. And the life of AJ Ginnis is very closely linked to the USA. Born in Greece and raised in his father’s ski school, he got on the skis for the first time when he was two years old. He also spent a lot of time in Austria, in Kaprun, where international ski teams train on the Kitzsteinhorn.

In order to get better conditions for a professional career, he moved to the USA at the age of 15 and was hired at the renowned Green Mountain Valley School. US legends like Daron Rahlves and AJ Kitt also trained there. Ginnis was so talented that he joined the US development team in 2012. A cruciate ligament rupture stopped its development. When he returned, he failed to qualify for the Sochi 2014 Olympics. An even worse setback followed: his father died completely unexpectedly. But Ginnis didn’t want to be dissuaded from his path.

Knee injured, Beijing dream bursts

In December 2014 he made his debut in the World Cup, he financed himself through a fundraising project, a year later he won bronze at the Junior World Championships. In December 2016 he scored points in the World Cup for the first time as 26th. Two other serious injuries to the cruciate ligament and the groin slowed him down again. He fought his way through the second-class competitions in North America and in Europe. The Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022 were his goal, but he injured himself again, a knee again. Another dream had burst.

The US team no longer supported him financially. When the Greek team asked, he decided to switch two years ago – and is now celebrating the sensation. As a lone fighter, as someone who never gave up. And everyone celebrated. When the disappointedly swinging Noel reached the target, he immediately hugged Ginnis. “A wonderful story”, ex-slalom ace and ARD expert Felix Neureuther also celebrated.

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