“I disagree everywhere”

On Monday night, ski ace Carlo Janka criticized the blockade imposed in Switzerland and explained why he would have taken a different path.

“You have to get in a little first,” says Carlo Janka with a smile when asked in a Skype conversation with “SRF” about his first session with fitness coach Michael Bont. However, he still had no muscle pain. “The footprints will only appear when you wake up tomorrow,” says Janka.

The 33-year-old reports from his parents’ restaurant in Obersaxen, where he has issued all the trophies he won for the guests. «Everything related to trophies, medals and awards goes directly to the restaurant. So that other people can also see it and so that they have more space at home, “explains Janka.

However, due to the Corona crisis, the restaurant has recently closed, like any other. “It’s not that bad in mountainous regions because the season ends here anyway, so it’s kind of mid-season,” Janka believes. But this is far from the case for all restorers, who are sometimes extremely affected. “A great world is collapsing for them. And for those who regret it.

“There were countries that did it differently”

The “Iceman” doubts the rigorous blockade of the Federal Council in Switzerland. “The situation now has many aspects that are not ideal and that would have been resolved differently. But you have to accept things as they are because you can’t change them anyway. Although there are other people who have to make the decisions in this crisis, Janka makes it clear: “I do not agree everywhere.”

For the 2010 Vancouver Giant Slalom Olympic Champion there would have been other possibilities or ways. “There were countries that did it differently and it didn’t come out much worse or even better. However, there was less collateral damage. That would have been the path for me instead of the one you have walked now. But as I said: there are others who have to decide that ».

The Obersaxer looks at Sweden, for example, where the government took relatively relaxed measures. Consequently, there were enough experts in this area who agreed. They may have been given very little attention, “Janka criticizes, explaining:” It would be interesting to know how it would have turned out if we had done it that way. We will never know.

A man of clear words

Once again, Janka does not take a leaf out of her mouth. He says what he thinks, not what the vast majority of viewers want to hear. In early 2019, he complained about the lack of cohesion in the Swiss team and only in February did Janka make it clear that he couldn’t do much with the Swiss victory in the Alpine Nations Cup.

The will to position has not always existed in Janka. Something was going in that direction. I also had to learn that, ”he said when asked. It takes a certain amount of maturity and a process. “Maybe I should have done it earlier, but I think it’s okay to keep it if you have an opinion.”