A few weeks ago, I received a request from the NZZ. Two journalists got in touch and said they were interested in my work with elite athletes and coaches of high-performance teams. That made me incredibly happy, because the real story is the athlete, not the coach.
But the two journalists, Dominic Wirth and Christof Krapf, managed to draw me into a fascinating conversation with many unexpected and thought-provoking questions. After all, the highest form of questions are those that help you better understand yourself and your work.
When I read the finished interview today, I have exactly that feeling.
Here on LinkedIn, I’ve also been asked repeatedly about my work with these exceptional athletes, so I thought I’d share a few excerpts from the interview with you as well.
Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
1. Mr. Jenewein, how did you approach coaching Aleksander Kilde?
fter such a tragic accident, the first crucial step is to allow emotions and not suppress them. That was the main focus at the beginning. He is a Viking and not used to talking about emotions or showing vulnerability.
2. How did you ultimately get him to open up?
had to gently draw it out of him. Eventually, he began to talk about his fears: not being able to continue in alpine skiing, having no income, not seeing his teammates anymore, and possibly ending his career unfinished. A crucial turning point came when he realized that, in order to move forward with his recovery, he could no longer see himself as an athlete—because at that moment, he simply wasn’t one anymore. When he accepted that he now had a new life. A life that could still be worth living—if he chose to embrace it.
3. When you told him that he was no longer an athlete, did he simply accept it?
No. He’s a polite and friendly person, but I could clearly sense that he was really angry at that moment. It took about two weeks before he came back to me and said: You’re right, I’m no longer an athlete. In that moment, he let go of his identity. Just imagine that. Others might have said: This is too much—I’m out. But not Aleksander. I still find that remarkable to this day.
4. Does success bring fulfillment, Mr. Jenewein? And how do you define success? Victories, titles, medals…?
By that definition: no. When I speak with athletes who have set a world record or won a title, the moment of victory often brings them less fulfillment than the journey that led there—the shared struggle and the realization that they have become better. I believe that, in hindsight, Kilde will be far more proud of his comeback than of his medals or his 23 World Cup victories.
This post was published by Wolfgang Jenewein on LinkedIn on January 6, 2026.