SOME surprises at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing seem too much to bear even for an experienced coach. Overwhelmed by his emotions, Peter Schlickenrieder surrendered Wednesday. Deeply moved, the German cross-country head coach went down on his knees. The 52-year-old seemed paralyzed and couldn’t speak a word. He might not even have heard the enthusiastic shouting around him with his team celebrating. Seconds ago, the German cross-country women’s team had won the team sprint and delivered one of the biggest surprises from a German perspective at the Winter Olympics in China. After recovering, Schlickenrieder couldn’t speak properly and only said: “I have to take a break from talking, I could cry the entire day, I can’t do anything about it.” Tears kept on flowing down his face. It wasn’t only the unexpected success that made him lose his balance after Katharina Hennig and Victoria Carl outpaced the favorites of the competition from Russia, Sweden, and Norway. “I couldn’t think of a better birthday present; it’s more than a dream; it’s crazy; it was such a wired day,” the coach stammered. In 2018 he took over the German team after having won the silver medal in the sprint event at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Now on his 52nd birthday, he felt like having reached the very top. The day had begun everything but ideal. Katherine Sauerbrey called off her participation at the side of Hennig. The seated team sprint athlete felt uncomfortable after a night without much sleep. Considering the small chance, the underdogs from Germany might be able to create a surprise, which at that time meant to reach place six, Sauerbrey stepped back for the team’s benefit. “I have the deepest respect for her decision,” the German coach said. Having won silver in the relay race aside from Hennig, Carl, and Sofie Krehl might have helped Sauerbrey make a difficult decision. Schlickenrieder went to see the intended replacement athlete. Victoria Carl for a second seemed surprised but reported to feel perfect after a restful sleep. Hennig and Carl delivered a masterpiece when it comes to smart race tactics. The German duo kept in sight the favorites over the entire race. Entering the final meters, Carl put their bold plan into action as she had humorously announced: “to destroy the competitors in the final sprint.” The replacement skier seemed to fly past her competitors approaching the finish line. “I felt full of confidence I could make it. Being able to push through is one of my advantages as I am rather tall and athletic,” she said. (Xinhua) | 