The Israeli Ski Team is Under Police Protection in Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Der Standard, February 9, 2025
German original: https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000256337/das-israelische-ski-team-steht-in-saalbach-hinterglemm-unter-polizeischutz
Lukas Zahrer from Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Increased security measures are in place for the association. Barnabás Szőllős talks about the advice from Israel to remove traces that would point to his team.
A little over a year ago, Barnabás Szőllős crashed face-first on the Streif in Kitzbühel so violently that he lost his helmet on impact. The Hungarian-born skier, who races for Israel, suffered multiple facial fractures and severe concussion. The all-rounder recovered over the summer, resumed training in November and got into shape for the Alpine Skiing World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.
“The first descent was still tough, but today was really fun,” said Szőllős after the second downhill training session on Thursday. A monster program awaits the 26-year-old in Pinzgau: Szőllős plans to start in all races. He withdrew from the super-G on Friday. On Sunday, he will take on the Schneekristall slope in the downhill (11:30 a.m.). In the second week of competition, the team combination with his brother Benjamin is scheduled, with Benjamin competing in the slalom. This will be followed by the qualifying races for the giant slalom and slalom, with the hope of two more races on Friday and Sunday.
Getting used to speed
Szőllős lives in Murau, and he and his brother and sister Noa form a private team. For speed training, he joins other nations. “Physically, I'm fine. I miss speed training to get that speed back into my body. You can't train that off-piste anywhere,” says Szőllős.
He gets his skis from the Vorarlberg-based manufacturer Kästle, and Uvex and Vist provide helmets and ski clothing. Some money comes from Israel to cover travel and accommodation at races. He says he pays the bulk out of his own pocket: “If we perform well at major events, we get a little more money from the association afterwards. To do that, we have to do well.”
Israel lettering removed from team clothing
The war in the Middle East is on Szőllős' mind, and he describes the situation in Israel as “difficult”. The National Olympic Committee advised the team to remove the Israel lettering from the team clothing. For security reasons. “We have to be careful. The racing suits still say Israel, but we should take everything off the clothing. For security reasons, it's better that we are bare,” says Szőllős.
Does he feel unsafe? ‘Not in Austria. Everything is safe there.’ There is a police presence in the Israeli team hotel around the clock. Szőllős: ”They are always at the reception and see who goes in and out.”
The sixth-placed athlete in the 2022 Olympics in the Nordic combined event has big plans for the World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. “It's very difficult without training,” he says. “But in Cortina four years ago, I was in the top 30 in everything. That would be very cool.” (Lukas Zahrer, 6.2.2025)