Ex-ski star in conversation – Schranz: “People, stand next to each other again!”

“K&K meeting” at Ballhausplatz. For Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) his first time on the historic balcony in the Federal Chancellery. Ski legend Karl Schranz (84) enjoyed great popularity here almost 50 years ago. Tens of thousands of people cheered him in solidarity after he was banned from the Sapporo Winter Olympics. Nowadays, besides the chancellor, only a few tourists stood below. “They also waved at us,” says Schranz. And he was happy as if it had been thousands of people.

The “Krone” asked the Austrian sports legend as a politically interested personality on current topics – from Babler to the future with the grandson.

“crown”:Mr Schranz, what is your assessment of the political situation in Austria? Keyword gigantic failure at the SPÖ, Andreas Babler instead of Doskozil.
Carl Schranz: There is a huge disturbance. Where people are, mistakes are made. But that this happens to a party as large as the SPÖ is of course negative. Your new party leader, Babeler, is still a blank page. That he came out as a Marxist does not suit Austria. Although the communists won in Graz and Salzburg, it probably won’t have a very positive effect on the whole.

Are the Greens doing well when it comes to environmental protection and the like?
To me, the Greens belong to the conglomerate of protest voices.

Aren’t the Greens doing enough for the environment?
Currently negative! Because they just pick on each other everywhere. There should be a law to ban these climate stickers. They hinder a lot, ambulance transport and a lot of people. The economy and everything.

So do you think this is the wrong form of protest to protect the Earth?
Yes, they can protest. Climb a tree for me. But don’t block roads. In doing so, they burden the environment.

Now to the subject of Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
He’s doing a good job. I told him he is one of those chancellors who has the toughest job. Because what is happening now is bizarre: Corona, war, inflation. He has to muddle through everything. But trying to please everyone is something no one can do.

Speaking of war, you have long had a friendly relationship with Russian President Putin. You condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine “in the strongest possible terms”. How is your contact with Putin today?
There is no. At that time, my family and I were threatened. That was negative. We had to remove the picture of Putin and me in our hotel. But you don’t know what and how he thinks. Only one thing is desirable: stop, end of the war.

On another subject: climate change and global warming. Can you still ski here in five years?
(laughs out loud) Of course, of course. This year we had the coldest spring in 30 years. There have been much warmer times when there were no glaciers and no snow down there. I say: the world keeps turning.

What can everyone personally do to ensure that nothing changes?
Everyone should live normally. We’ve lived in abundance, that’s the problem. We must limit ourselves, the whole world must slow down. Don’t drive every meter and fly around the world.

You are still considered a national hero in Austria.
I bin koa Held (laughs).

In an interview, you said yes and said, “Maybe. But I didn’t want that. I wanted the Olympic victory.”
Yes logical. But today I no longer want the Olympic victory. I do not mourn the passage of time.

What do you want as your lifelong dream?
That the world will be better for it. No one trusts anyone anymore, that’s sad. People are standing together again! Personally, I only wish for one thing: to be able to see my one-year-old grandson for a long time to come. She can’t even stand properly yet, but if she can, we’ll go skiing…

Do you actually regret anything in your life?
Well, not actually. I’m really happy with life the way it is.