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Germany’s Vivian Hoesch is relishing the chance to compete on home snow in 2017 when the World Para Nordic Skiing Championships come to Finsterau.
Last season she reached the World Cup top three for the first time, following on from a successful World Championships in 2015 where she won her first medal.
Alongside guide Florian Schillinger, Hoesch has really come of age since making her international debut in the 2009-10 season.
In the early stages of her career she was named Sportswoman of the Year in Baden and Freiburg in 2008 and 2011 respectively.
Her idol is German tennis player Boris Becker and away from the trails, Hoesch enjoys playing piano, travelling and listening to music.
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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Vision impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
B1
Guide
Florian Grimm
Further personal information
Residence
Freiburg, GER
Occupation
Administrator
Languages
English, French, German
Higher education
Psychology - SRH Riedlingen: Germany
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She took up the sport in 2006 in Freiburg, Germany.
Why this sport?
She was inspired after watching the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin. "It's fun to climb mountains and enjoy the descent afterwards. When you are training with teammates and enjoying nature, fresh air and the snow, it gives a wonderful feeling."
Club / Team
Ring der Korperbehinderten Freiburg [GER] / SV Kirchzarten [GER]:
Name of coach
Ralf Rombach [national], GER
International debut
Year
2008
Competing for
Germany
Tournament
World Cup
Location
Oberstdorf, GER
General interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in Cable, WI, United States of America. (Athlete, 08 Mar 2018)
Hero / Idol
German biathlete Magdalena Neuner. (Athlete, 08 Mar 2018)
Injuries
She underwent knee surgery in 2018. She resumed training in November 2018 and returned to competition in the 2019/20 season. (sportschau.de, 08 Dec 2021; vivian-hoesch.de, 01 Jan 2020)
Persistent health problems kept her out of the 2016/17 season. (freiburger-wochenbericht.de, 20 Dec 2017; sportschau.de, 18 Dec 2017)
Persistent health problems kept her out of the 2016/17 season. (freiburger-wochenbericht.de, 20 Dec 2017; sportschau.de, 18 Dec 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Biathlon and cross-country skiing give me a sense of achievement and happiness, that I've accomplished something while being active. It also gives me the opportunity to show that despite a disability everything is possible." (ring-freiburg.de, 03 Dec 2012)
Awards and honours
She was named the 2011 Sportswoman of the Year in Freiburg, Germany. (badische-zeitung.de, 04 Mar 2012)
She was named the 2008 Sportswoman of the Year in Baden, Germany. (weg-freiburg.de, 03 Dec 2012)
She was named the 2008 Sportswoman of the Year in Baden, Germany. (weg-freiburg.de, 03 Dec 2012)
Other sports
She competed in both biathlon and cross-country skiing at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. (SportsDeskOnline, 25 Nov 2021)
Impairment
She was born with a visual impairment that resulted in complete blindness from age nine. (Athlete, 08 Mar 2018; peterstaler.de, 01 Apr 2011)
Other information
RETIREMENT RETHINK
She initially retired from the sport after the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang due to a knee injury. However, after having surgery, in November 2018 she returned to training and decided to continue with competitive sport. "I had a knee operation. You usually have to decide very quickly how to proceed. I wanted my knee to fully recover. I thought that being three months behind in training wouldn't feel good. In November 2018, however, my knee was recovering and I was able to jog again. I missed it. So I came back." (sportschau.de, 08 Dec 2021)
She initially retired from the sport after the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang due to a knee injury. However, after having surgery, in November 2018 she returned to training and decided to continue with competitive sport. "I had a knee operation. You usually have to decide very quickly how to proceed. I wanted my knee to fully recover. I thought that being three months behind in training wouldn't feel good. In November 2018, however, my knee was recovering and I was able to jog again. I missed it. So I came back." (sportschau.de, 08 Dec 2021)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 6 km Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-08 | 5 | |
| Women's 1 km Sprint Visually Impaired | Semifinal | 2014-03-12 | 5 | |
| Women's 12.5 km Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-14 | 9999 | |
| Women's 5 km Visually Impaired | Final Round | 2014-03-16 | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Short Distance VI | Race 1 | 2015-01-24 | 3 | |
| Women's Middle Distance VI | Race 1 | 2015-01-27 | 5 | |
| Women's Sprint - Classic VI | Race 1 | 2015-01-28 | 4 | |
| Women's Long Distance VI | Race 1 | 2015-01-30 | 5 | |
| Women's Middle Distance - Classic VI | Race 1 | 2015-01-31 | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 6km Visual Impaired | Final | 2018-03-10 | 7 |
