Before the World Cup and Paralympics – the deadline for the comeback is November 8th

Para-skier Christoph Schneider missed the Paralympics in Korea in 2018 because of a torn cruciate ligament. This January the 29-year-old Pongauer was hit again on his right knee. For military athletes, returning to the slopes becomes a race against time.

Even before the games in Pyeongchang ’18, Christoph Schneider suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament. He came back, barely missed a medal in fourth place on the downhill at the ’19 World Cup without much practice. Unfortunately, the game repeated itself for the Wahl-Altenmarkter in January: rupture of the right cruciate ligament on the Reiteralm with meniscus and inner ligament involvement. One and a half months before the start of the season, the 29-year-old still lacks any practice.

“If I look at the mountains, I would itch,” admits the SC Radstadt athlete. More than physio practically at home with Astrid Vierthaler and rehab with Gitti Obermoser in Radstadt is currently not possible. Schneider always throws fluid and swelling in the knee back. For treatment, the army athlete is in Innsbruck with Dr. Oberladstätter in the Kettenbrücke sanatorium. “He says I have to take my time, is optimistic.”

The speed driver, who has started in the para range since a partial amputation of his right hand, struggles with the setbacks, but says: “In three weeks I want to try out driving freely.” The deadline for the time being is November 8th with check and MRI. Schneider’s prognosis: “It will be a race by the start of the World Cup on January 5th. My big goal, to start at the Paralympics in March, should turn out normally. “

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