Carinthia's Olympic stars

Heiko became a goldfish after a pond accident

After training at the Spittaler Drautalperle, Gigler let off steam on the slide for the "Krone" photo shoot.(Bild: Josef Kuess)

It wasn't love at first sight with the water for Olympic swimmer Heiko Gigler - his long fingers recently helped him win gold at the European Championships. At the Games, the swimmer from Upper Carinthia is once again Austria's final swimmer in the relay - and wants to at least reach the final.

The water is his absolute element! Because Heiko Gigler from Upper Carinthia spends several hours there every day. However, it wasn't love at first sight. As a small child aged just three, the swimming ace fell into a pond at Eselpark Malta. "I was curious and ran in - luckily my dad quickly pulled me out again," laughs the now 28-year-old.