Why the ÖSV eagle is proud of his likeness, how the preparation is going and what he has to say about the athlete of the year election
Stefan Kraft is a three-time world champion, two-time overall World Cup winner, Four Hills Tournament winner and world record holder. Since Monday, the 28-year-old from Salzburg has also been the world's first ski jumper to have his own wax figure at Madame Tussauds. “Unbelievable”, he was amazed when he sat next to his likeness on the trembling beam for the first time at the presentation in Vienna, “a great honor.”
The figures by Hermann Maier, Franz Klammer and Renate Götschl can be admired in the same room. “Crazy, I kept my fingers crossed for them as a child. Now my figure is next to hers,” said Kraft, who felt honored.
What was it like to stand next to yourself for the first time? “It's kind of weird,” admitted the high-flyer, but it was also a great honor. From the wax museum, however, we went almost directly to training, the final preparation for the start of the season in November is imminent. “It's going well,” he reports, “I'm definitely doing better than last year.”
Back then he had back problems that he now has under control. The suit failure – Kraft was last disqualified at the Summer Grand Prix in Klingenthal – is no cause for concern: “Of course there is still a lot of tinkering. In addition, the measurements were extremely strict.” Postscript: “Better to be disqualified now than then in the World Cup.”
Incentive
So far everything is good – if it weren't for the election for athlete of the year: despite being gold at the World Cup, Kraft is not among the top 3. “That shows that many athletes were very good.” He doesn't hold a grudge, he grants it to the nominees Vincent Kriechmayr, Lukas Weißhaidinger and Jakob Schubert: “They all did a great job and deserve it.”
Is he disappointed? The answer comes after a moment with a big grin on his face: “I see that as an incentive.”
