Ski sensation Hoffmann: Before the end of his career because of Corona and coaching mistakes!

Ski sensation Hoffmann: Before the end of his career because of Corona and coaching mistakes!

The Austrian skier Hoffmann is forced to end his career due to serious health problems. Under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic and mandatory vaccination requirements, his condition is significantly impaired. His father has made serious accusations against the coaching team at the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV), which, in his opinion, ignored his son's persistent fatigue. “A lack of empathy and social skills in the coaching team is criticized,” say the critical voices from the talent’s environment.

Hoffmann has recently been excluded from the ÖSV squad, which, according to official information, is due to too few points in the slalom. While the exclusion seems rationally understandable, his father argues that nepotism was involved in the assessment of his son's performance. Hoffmann himself states that his motivation and drive have been lost, which puts additional strain on the overall situation.

Psychological stress caused by the pandemic

The challenges Hoffmann faces reflect broader societal issues. The psychological stress caused by COVID-19 has increased for many athletes, and not just Hoffmann. According to the World Health Organization It is crucial to promote exercise and a healthy lifestyle to manage stress during the pandemic. Mental health issues such as loneliness, depression and the effects of quarantine are dominant topics that have increased in importance in recent years.

A long-term study by Harvard University shows that life satisfaction depends heavily on the quality of social relationships. The corona-related contact restrictions have particularly hit older people and single people as well as people who are active in sports like Hoffmann. Exercise and sporting activities are crucial for physical and mental health and can help alleviate the mental pressure that many face.

Measures to maintain mental health

To support mental health during these challenging times, preventive measures are extremely important. Movement therapy approaches have proven that they can have a positive influence on the prevention and treatment of mental illnesses. Based on the experiences that Hoffmann also had, it is becoming increasingly clear that the “maintenance dose of exercise” is of great importance, especially in times of crisis.

The Hoffmann case is an example of how important it is to take the health and psychological needs of athletes seriously. Despite sporting successes, coaches and associations must be able to recognize and support the individual condition and challenges of their athletes.