Aiming for the top 15

Baumgartner: “I’m not afraid, but I have respect”

Sarah Baumgartner is ready for the Junior World Championships in St. Moritz.(Bild: GEPA)

Skeleton racer Sarah Baumgartner wants to attack at the Junior World Championships in St. Moritz. It is her first time on the Swiss track and she is accordingly nervous. Nevertheless, the Salzburg native wants to attack.

Sarah Baumgartner is considered a talent in two sports. In summer she is an athlete, in winter she focuses on skeleton, where she has also been competing in the European Cup since this season. At the end of last year, the 17-year-old was crowned U18 national champion in the Igls ice track. "I'm the only one in the U18 class who races in the European Cup. That's why I was also the favorite," says the now two-time junior national champion, because last year's classification was also raced in December.

On Monday, the Salzburg native raced to St. Moritz, her first time in the Swiss resort. She was able to get a first impression while riding through. "What I saw was glamorous," says Baumgartner. After her first runs on the natural ice track, she immediately fell in love with the ice track: "The training sessions have gone well so far. There are still things to correct, but everything is within the realm of possibility. The track is good and is definitely one of my new favorite tracks."

Sarah Baumgartner in St. Moritz, one of her new favorite tracks.(Bild: zVg)

The 17-year-old has no fear anyway. Although she descends head first at over 100 km/h (her top speed is 133 km/h), she shows no fear despite or thanks to her young age. "I'm not afraid, but I have respect."

On Saturday, she will be competing in the U20 and U23 rankings. "My goal is a top 15 place in the U20, I'm going in with that attitude," says Baumgartner, who at 17 is one of the younger starters.