“The minimum target is definitely the semi-finals,” insisted the 25-year-old ahead of his Olympic debut. But secretly, even a sixth overall from the last World Cup season dreamed of jumping on the podium. DSV Ski Crossers sports director Haley Herdt also took the Black Forester into account in the medal fight. Eventually, the Black Forest women finished third at a World Cup in Nakiska, Canada, in mid-January.

Ability

It started with the qualification at 4.30 am. Daniela Meier started well for the knockout rounds. The 25-year-old came in third in the heat. Sweden’s gold favorite Sandra Naslund set the best time. “It could go on like this,” Maier posted on Instagram shortly before preparing for the round of 16.

16. round of

From 7 a.m. onwards, the world’s best ski crossers fought for a medal in the heats. met Daniela Meier his round of 16Only the best two crossers progress on, Ekaterina Maltseva (Russia) and Katrin Offner (Austria). After a bit of trouble at the start, Furtwangen’s women dominated the events and celebrated an undisputed victory at 7:17 am. This was also due to the fact that their two opponents had cleared each other on a one kilometer long track with nine turns and many obstacles. And the big gold favorite Sandra Naslund (Sweden)? The nine-time World Cup winner also made it to the quarter-finals without any trouble.

quarter final

In the quarterfinals, the 25-year-old again played his heat favorite against Ofner, Sami Kennedy-Sim (Canada) and Anastasia Chirtkova (ROV/Russia). “I want to at least reach the semi-finals,” Maier insisted shortly before leaving for Beijing. Pure relief could be read on the face of the Furtwangen woman at 7.50 a.m. After a dramatic run, Meier finished second for the semi-finals. After a weak start and a difficult duel with Offner, she was initially only fourth. But the 25-year-old struggled hard, reaching second before the last jump. What a strong hold! Semifinals!

semifinal

Run for a medal – or just a “little final”? In addition to Maier, Kennedy-Sim, Fanny Smith (Switzerland) and Brittany Phelan (Canada) were also keen to engage in the battle for precious metals. And then, until the final jump, it didn’t look like the 25-year-old would reach one of the first two places. There were problems in the beginning, then Maier had to enter the field from behind. Smith, Phelan and Meier scored the final meters of the race and crossed the finish line at about the same time. Photo finish! At 8.09 in the morning, Mayer shouted. One rank ahead of Smith. So it was about medals. It goes without saying that members of SC Urach at the community center are now slowly switching from coffee to sparkling wine.

The last

8.23 a.m. Snowfall performance: Maier, Naslund, Smith and Marielle Thompson, Canadian Olympic champions since 2014, are focused and at the start of perhaps the most important race of their careers. Better start stage, the Furtwangen native took third place at the start. She held on to bronze for a long time until Fanny Smith pulled out her left ski just before the finish jump and caught Maier. It bends and comes back to fourth position. This action is being investigated, but the result remains the same: gold for Sandra Naslund, silver for Marielle Thompson, bronze for Fanny Smith, and an “ungrateful” fourth place for Daniela Meier, who is about to miss a medal. Despite all the disappointments, the actual advertisement for Tha Ski Cross was driven.

sudden bronze

But 20 minutes later the jury intervened. Smith was dropped to fourth place due to alleged misconduct, with Maier winning the bronze medal. “It’s a joke,” said the Swiss. The woman in Furtwangen no longer even understood the ski cross world. everything was OK. As of 8:38 a.m., the 25-year-old had won the first medal by a German ski crosser at an Olympic Games. The Swiss were likely to oppose. So Daniela Meier was on hold! The joy of a medal looks different. At 8.45 a.m. the woman from Furtwangen climbed the podium.

Read also: Twitter Reacts to Bronze for Daniella Meyer

from Beijing to Russia

For Meier now it is from Beijing to Russia. The next World Cup is scheduled for February 26 and 27 in the Urals – more precisely in Sunny Valley. And later, a special reward awaits at Furtwangen, whether it’s in third or fourth place: Sausage Salad from Mama Brunhilde.