Iouri Podladtchikov wants to "really challenge himself again" when he returns to the halfpipe. The 36-year-old from Zurich explains when he came up with the idea and how he envisages his comeback.
10.01.2025, 16:44
10.01.2025, 16:57
SDA
Iouri Podladtchikov, when did you realize that you wanted to compete in professional sport again?
"I had been toying with the idea for a while. Also because I've been working as an assistant coach in the Swiss team for the last few years. I enjoyed it, but I also felt a bit like I was on the substitutes' bench. After constantly watching others, I wondered whether I might still be able to do that. But it only really became concrete a month ago, maybe even less than that."
Was there a particular experience or moment that influenced you?
"There were many factors that made me flirt more and more with the idea. First and foremost, I'm currently spending a lot of time in the snow due to my coaching work. Possibly even more than in all the years before. And so the idea started to roll up like a snowball and get bigger and bigger."
How serious are you about the comeback?
"I'm not interested in just jumping along for a bit or simply being there again as an athlete in Laax. The effort would be far too great for that. I want to really challenge myself again and have a clear goal in mind. I want to end my career by taking part in the 2026 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, I was denied that last time. The end back then was bitter and gave me some troubled dreams. Now the goal is to sweeten the bitter part. Just like when you add something fruity when cooking."
How do you see your chances of jumping with the best again?
"Unfortunately, I missed a lot of the preparation training. If I had been there, I would have been able to better assess how good my chances are. I recently heard that Lindsey Vonn skied a top 15 time. And I think the top 15 is also possible for me. Of course, that wouldn't be enough for the final in Laax, but you have to start somewhere."
Have you been inspired by Vonn's comeback or by others?
"Definitely. I never met Lindsey Vonn in person, but I spoke to her physiotherapist about her in Aspen. Her story inspired me a lot, as did Mike Tyson's comeback. We joked that comebacks are probably the trend. It's like a virus that has now caught me too."
Aren't you afraid of disappointing the fans and, above all, yourself?
"There is certainly the possibility that it will go wrong or that I will injure myself again. It's a dangerous sport. I've crashed a few times in training over the last few days and realized that it's already 'heavy'. But I have weighed up the decision carefully and I am sure that it will be worth the effort. I feel ready and firmly believe in it."
Will it go even further after 2026?
"No, I see the comeback more as a lap of honor, not as a new start to my career. From a purely biological point of view, I don't have that much left in me, even if I've only turned a few hairs gray. I've really appreciated coaching over the last few years. It was nice to exchange ideas with the next generation. So I can well imagine returning to this area afterwards."
