The excellent Czech-German skeleton racer Anna Fernstädt has had a colourful life journey so far. She was born in Prague, but later moved to Darmstadt, Berchtesgaden, and now lives in Šumperk. The young and hopeful athlete feels best when she is going down a frozen track, head first, at a speed of 100 km/h, and she is looking forward to the Olympics.
Anna, how did you end up in the Jeseníky Mountains?
I have a trainer and a physical therapist in Šumperk. There isn’t a track here, but it is still the best solution for training. Moreover, I’m doing distance learning so I don’t have to deal with commuting.
Is it a big change moving from the Alps to the Jeseníky Mountains? Do you miss anything?
Well, the hills are smaller but I train a lot in the summer so I don’t really have much energy to hike. I miss my family. I visit my brother and dad in Berchtesgaden when I have a longer break.
What is the difference between living in Germany and living in the Czech Republic?
The language is different. We spoke German at home, I only spoke Czech with my mom and grandma, so it took me a while to get used to the Czech language.
How did you actually end up with skeleton racing? It’s not a typical sport for girls. Didn’t you want to ski instead?
Of course I wanted to ski! I did professional gymnastics since I was little and I wanted to continue in Berchtesgaden. But there was no gymnastic team, I was too old to start skiing, and too young to do bobsleigh. So, skeleton was my only option. My brother was younger, he was ten, so he could start with snowboarding. But I also wanted to race. The skeleton team had professional trainers, they prepared a training plan for me, and my goal was clear. The Olympics!
You have fulfilled your dream, congratulations. I assume that skeleton is now the number one thing in your life, but what about in the beginning? Did you like it?
It was very hard at the beginning, and painful. But you get used to it. I found my habits from gymnastics useful. Gymnastics teaches you to work with your body, you gain strength. And today, I’m happy. I’ve been at the Olympics, I’ve won the World Junior Championship three times; skeleton is both my work and hobby.
What other plans do you have? Can you earn your living with skeleton?
Right now my objective is to participate at the Olympics in Beijing. Make a living? No (laughing). I will do sports for as long as I can, but then I will have to find a job. I might be a trainer, I might try sports management, or maybe I will help my mom with her company. But I don’t have time to think about a different career right now.
Have your friends from Germany visited you in the Czech Republic yet? Where would you take them?
Not yet, I train a lot and I wouldn’t have time for them. But I would definitely take them to the Old Town in Prague, that’s a must. I personally prefer smaller towns and mountains. The Jeseníky Mountains are beautiful. The nature here is beautiful… I like cycling or in-line skating here.
What places do you love most?
I would definitely take them to Praděd, and then we would ride scooters down from the dam. In the evening, I would take them to the sauna at Sobotín Château. And if they would want to go to a city, we would go to Olomouc. I’ve just been there for the first time and I liked it a lot. Text: Jan Herget Photo: FB of Anna Fernstädt
I have a trainer and a physical therapist in Šumperk. There isn’t a track here, but it is still the best solution for training. Moreover, I’m doing distance learning so I don’t have to deal with commuting.
Is it a big change moving from the Alps to the Jeseníky Mountains? Do you miss anything?
Well, the hills are smaller but I train a lot in the summer so I don’t really have much energy to hike. I miss my family. I visit my brother and dad in Berchtesgaden when I have a longer break.
What is the difference between living in Germany and living in the Czech Republic?
The language is different. We spoke German at home, I only spoke Czech with my mom and grandma, so it took me a while to get used to the Czech language.
How did you actually end up with skeleton racing? It’s not a typical sport for girls. Didn’t you want to ski instead?
Of course I wanted to ski! I did professional gymnastics since I was little and I wanted to continue in Berchtesgaden. But there was no gymnastic team, I was too old to start skiing, and too young to do bobsleigh. So, skeleton was my only option. My brother was younger, he was ten, so he could start with snowboarding. But I also wanted to race. The skeleton team had professional trainers, they prepared a training plan for me, and my goal was clear. The Olympics!
You have fulfilled your dream, congratulations. I assume that skeleton is now the number one thing in your life, but what about in the beginning? Did you like it?
It was very hard at the beginning, and painful. But you get used to it. I found my habits from gymnastics useful. Gymnastics teaches you to work with your body, you gain strength. And today, I’m happy. I’ve been at the Olympics, I’ve won the World Junior Championship three times; skeleton is both my work and hobby.
What other plans do you have? Can you earn your living with skeleton?
Right now my objective is to participate at the Olympics in Beijing. Make a living? No (laughing). I will do sports for as long as I can, but then I will have to find a job. I might be a trainer, I might try sports management, or maybe I will help my mom with her company. But I don’t have time to think about a different career right now.
Have your friends from Germany visited you in the Czech Republic yet? Where would you take them?
Not yet, I train a lot and I wouldn’t have time for them. But I would definitely take them to the Old Town in Prague, that’s a must. I personally prefer smaller towns and mountains. The Jeseníky Mountains are beautiful. The nature here is beautiful… I like cycling or in-line skating here.
What places do you love most?
I would definitely take them to Praděd, and then we would ride scooters down from the dam. In the evening, I would take them to the sauna at Sobotín Château. And if they would want to go to a city, we would go to Olomouc. I’ve just been there for the first time and I liked it a lot. Text: Jan Herget Photo: FB of Anna Fernstädt
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