Wealth Management
01. February 2023
10 minutes

Géraldine Ruckstuhl on her way to the 2024 Olympic Games

We are very pleased to announce the cooperation between Géraldine Ruckstuhl and OLZ. In this interview, the heptathlete explains how she is preparing for the new season and the Olympic Games in Paris and how she is dealing with the more difficult moments in her career.

Down-to-earth, natural, ambitious. Focused and pointed. Explosive, agile, light on her feet. A heptathlete with a strong will to succeed and healthy self-confidence. Her next big goal: the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

We are very happy to work with you and support you in your career in the coming years. The new year has started and you are already in the middle of training again. Are you working towards a specific goal right now?

In 2023, the goal is to compete in many events so that I can gain good competition experience with my new coach. It's also about placing well in the world rankings so that I'm in a great position to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.

What exactly does the training of an all-around athlete look like?

A normal training week consists of 9-10 training sessions. Sunday is always the rest day for me to regain energy. We try to train each discipline at least once a week. In the winter we focus on the weaker disciplines in order to make progress. In the competition season we try to train everything evenly. We have discipline trainings, strength units, regeneration measures and much more. Training as a heptathlete is very varied and it never gets boring.

How long does it take to prepare for a major event like the Olympics?

We always plan in a 4-year rhythm. The preparations start very early. In my case, for example, after a change of training environment, the first thing was a review and a basic year. After that, you try to establish a certain routine with the new cooperation between the coach and the athlete through competitions. The following year is then all about calling up the performances and getting the maximum out of them. 

 

You have already been able to celebrate several successes in your career. In addition to the award for the best young athlete in 2017, you were the world number 1 in the U23 category in 2019 and became European champion. What goes on in your mind when you are at the start line, 60 seconds before the decisive competition?

Most of the time I am just very grateful that I can be at the start and realize this. I try to soak up the atmosphere just before the competition and convert this adrenaline rush into energy.

In 2021 you qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Unfortunately, you were unable to participate due to a foot injury. How do you deal with such experiences?

There are always setbacks in an athlete's career. They are experiences that you can fall back on in the future. My motto here is: You take one step back to take two steps forward. As an athlete, I love challenges, so after a setback you give 110% until you get back there or even better than before.

After your injury, you took some time off and decided to completely change your sporting environment - how did this change affect you?

As an athlete, you have to try something new every now and then in order to be rewarded and take another step forward. For me, it was the best decision I could have made. My passion for athletics was really reawakened. Change is always a great opportunity, you just have to have the courage to take it.

What you never miss at your competitions is a thermos bottle, a blanket and utensils for the javelin. What would you never do without in life?

Joy of life "pura vida". On my travels so far, I have become aware of this again and again. To have joy in small things, to be happy and to do what you like.

We don't want to keep you from your training any longer, so let's conclude: What event do you have coming up next?

The first big heptathlon is scheduled for the end of April in Italy at Lake Garda. We are currently working our way there for a short trip to competitions in the indoor season. Gathering competition practice so that I can fully attack at the beginning of the season.

We are always happy to talk to you.

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