The Olympic Village in Cortina d’Ampezzo is filling up. More and more athletes are moving into their rooms. Also skeleton Olympic champion Hannah Neise. She makes herself comfortable with a special declaration of love from her mother.
Two beds, two bedside tables, a wardrobe, a sideboard – the rooms in the Olympic Village in Cortina d’Ampezzo are functional. Plus a bathroom with toilet and shower, this will be the home of the Olympic athletes who will be competing in Cortina for the next two weeks.
Also that of Hannah Neise. The skeleton pilot, who sensationally raced to Olympic gold at the Games four years ago in Beijing, moved to the village last Tuesday. She lives alone in her tiny house. “I think it would have been tight here for 14 days with just two of us. But we would have managed that too. But of course it’s nice to have such a small retreat,” says Neise. Instead of a teammate, Neise now takes her sled with her to her house.
Posters on the walls, a cuddly toy and a very special blanket as a lucky charm: your retreat already bears Neise’s signature. A fluffy blanket is spread over the bed. “My mother gave me the blanket before the Olympics in Beijing. Of course I took it with me this time too,” says Heise.
“The special daughter you will always be”
The inscription on the blanket is a declaration of love to her daughter Hannah: “To my daughter, even though I can’t be with you, I want you to know that I love you, for the girl you once were, for the great woman you have become today and for the special daughter you will always be. Cover yourself with this and take it as a big hug. With love, your mom.”
Despite the familiar blanket, she has had trouble falling asleep; the first few days were too exciting. “I was a bit nervous the day before departure because you know: now it’s time to go to the games again. There are so many new impressions. I lie down in the evening and read something to relax a little,” says Neise. Probably snuggled up in the blanket.
