Around the World
„I don’t have to prove anything to anybody anymore!“
After Bernhard Gruber last week, it was high time to check in with the other reigning World Champion after the season. In this edition of TUESDAY TALK, Johannes Rydzek talks about the dynamics in the Germany team, his off-season activities and what the World Champion title means to him.
A question for the other reigning World Champion and „King of Falun“, too. How does your achievement feel a few weeks later?
Johannes Rydzek: I think this is one of the most-asked questions that I had to answer in the last few months. To be honest, I am not thinking about it that much. Of course the memories of the events and emotions are still very moving, I will never forget them. But mainly this title helped me relax more. I am not any less ambitious or have less goals but it showed me what I am capable of and I don’t have to prove anything to anybody anymore. Privately, nothing has changed, luckily.
Eric Frenzel had been the one very successful athlete on the German team before you stepped it up in the past winter. Would you say that the dynamic in the team changed since you have made it very clear that you can and want to be the number one in the future?
Rydzek: There is no clear „team leader“ in our team, it’s rather an environment in which we all push each other. You are happy about the others’s successes, especially with Eric I have always felt that way. There is no fight for „power“.
Looking back at the past season, of course we have to mention the collision incident with Jarl Riiber in Lahti again. How do you view this event with a few weeks in between?
Rydzek: First of all, I am happy that nobody got seriously injured. Looking at the pictures again, it’s pretty clear that it was a dangerous situation. But this is the sport and action and adrenaline are big parts of what Nordic Combined is. We both made mistakes and I for my part apologized for that. I don't really want to comment anything that has been written on the social media after that. I am through with the topic.
As it is plain to see on your social media accounts, you are somebody who likes to spend time outdoors in the nature to relax and unwind. Can you tell us a little bit about what you did after the season ended?
Rydzek: Exactly. Nature just gives me a lot of power and I am able to really relax outdoors. After the World Cup finals, I went to Romsdal in Norway with a couple of friends where we rented a cabin at the fjord as base for our ski tours. Back home, I was able to enjoy the time with my girlfriend, family and friends in the Allgäu mountains, going skiing or doing more ski tours. But duty also called again - my studies!
With the month of May, the trainings for the new season usually get under way. What is on schedule for you first?
Rydzek: Yes, it’s the same for us. At first, the individual training started again and the first camps are on at the beginning of June. At first, we’ll have a jumping camp in Schruns, Montafon and after that an endurance cycling camp in Mallorca is on.
Finally, the obligatory question: have you already set new goals for the upcoming summer and season?
Rydzek: The summer is all about fun. I am extremely excited about the Summer Grand Prix coming to my home town of Oberstdorf again. The new season is still pretty far away but of course I would like to pick up where I left off. Anything else would also be quite illogical! (laughs)
A question for the other reigning World Champion and „King of Falun“, too. How does your achievement feel a few weeks later?
Johannes Rydzek: I think this is one of the most-asked questions that I had to answer in the last few months. To be honest, I am not thinking about it that much. Of course the memories of the events and emotions are still very moving, I will never forget them. But mainly this title helped me relax more. I am not any less ambitious or have less goals but it showed me what I am capable of and I don’t have to prove anything to anybody anymore. Privately, nothing has changed, luckily.
Eric Frenzel had been the one very successful athlete on the German team before you stepped it up in the past winter. Would you say that the dynamic in the team changed since you have made it very clear that you can and want to be the number one in the future?
Rydzek: There is no clear „team leader“ in our team, it’s rather an environment in which we all push each other. You are happy about the others’s successes, especially with Eric I have always felt that way. There is no fight for „power“.
Looking back at the past season, of course we have to mention the collision incident with Jarl Riiber in Lahti again. How do you view this event with a few weeks in between?
Rydzek: First of all, I am happy that nobody got seriously injured. Looking at the pictures again, it’s pretty clear that it was a dangerous situation. But this is the sport and action and adrenaline are big parts of what Nordic Combined is. We both made mistakes and I for my part apologized for that. I don't really want to comment anything that has been written on the social media after that. I am through with the topic.
As it is plain to see on your social media accounts, you are somebody who likes to spend time outdoors in the nature to relax and unwind. Can you tell us a little bit about what you did after the season ended?
Rydzek: Exactly. Nature just gives me a lot of power and I am able to really relax outdoors. After the World Cup finals, I went to Romsdal in Norway with a couple of friends where we rented a cabin at the fjord as base for our ski tours. Back home, I was able to enjoy the time with my girlfriend, family and friends in the Allgäu mountains, going skiing or doing more ski tours. But duty also called again - my studies!
With the month of May, the trainings for the new season usually get under way. What is on schedule for you first?
Rydzek: Yes, it’s the same for us. At first, the individual training started again and the first camps are on at the beginning of June. At first, we’ll have a jumping camp in Schruns, Montafon and after that an endurance cycling camp in Mallorca is on.
Finally, the obligatory question: have you already set new goals for the upcoming summer and season?
Rydzek: The summer is all about fun. I am extremely excited about the Summer Grand Prix coming to my home town of Oberstdorf again. The new season is still pretty far away but of course I would like to pick up where I left off. Anything else would also be quite illogical! (laughs)
Source: fis-ski.com
