World Cup winner Camille Laster talks depression, injuries

World Cup Champion and Overall World Cup Champion – Camille Rast is the skier of the moment. The 25-year-old overcame setbacks and inner demons on her way to the top of the world.

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March 13, 2017 Her star is on the rise: Camille Rast, long considered a prodigy, wins slalom gold at the Junior World Championships in Are, when she was not yet 18 years old. The young Swiss woman leaves behind her competitors, most of whom are older and clearly behind her, including Ali Nurmeier, Chiara Meyer, Kristen Lesdal, Some big names like Leona Popovich and Nina O'Brien.

Camille Rust also competed in the 2017 Adult World Championships.Image: KEYSTONE

Rest is a commitment to the future. A technician could one day represent Switzerland on the podium at the World Cup. She skied for the first time before she was two years old. She comes from a sports-loving family – her mother was a track and field athlete and her father was a multiple Swiss motocross champion. She herself was active in many different ways: Lassiter ran track, swam, rode horses, played soccer, competed in mountain bike races and studied at a circus school for three years. The best conditions for a successful career.

“Dead inside”

But it's not just qualifying for the World Cup, life can be rough at times. After winning the Junior World Championship, the Valais native contracted Pfeiffer's glandular fever, which severely limited her preparations for the 2017/18 season. The results were lacking. In February 2018, her season ended prematurely.

But as Rust revealed years later, there was more to it than just illness from the previous year. At 18, Pfeiffer contracted glandular fever and fell into a severe depression. She told Sportlerin magazine that she felt “dead inside” at the time. «I feel useless. I have no strength left. This is a horrible situation and I can't stand it anymore. “

afraid of one's own thoughts

With the diagnosis, Rust's world came crashing down. Cycling, holidays, the World Cup season and possibly the 2018 Olympics in South Korea – “all the good plans went to waste”. Despite her body being on strike, she fought hard in summer training, not for herself, but because she didn't want to let anyone down.

This winter, Rust cried every day. «I even thought about making up a fall. Nothing bad, just flying into the net so I can go home,” admitted the Valais woman. On February 18, 2018, she could no longer do it. The trainer asked her if she wanted to take part in the next A day later, Last returned to Valais and sought psychological help.

“I was afraid of my thoughts, of the darkness, of being alone. I had no fun, no desires, no ideas, I was completely empty and had no prospects.” She went to therapy once a week. She asked her parents to sell anything that reminded her of her past life. “I’m clear: This is what skiing is like,” Rust said over his shoulder.

Therapy helps, but the insecurities and bad thoughts remain. Laster still turned to antidepressants, although she initially resisted them. During a three-week solo mountain biking trip in late summer 2018, she cleared her head and felt joy in her life for the first time.

Torn cruciate ligament and fatal brand change

After some hesitation, Camille Last returned the following winter. She is slowly returning to the top of the world through the European Cup. In February, she won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships—this time in the giant slalom. But the next setback followed: At the Swiss Championships in March, the Valais woman first won the giant slalom, but a day later she fell in the slalom and tore her cruciate and medial ligaments.

Rast has been inactive for a year and a half. It's hard to come back. World Cup results missing. The French-speaking Swiss always try to gain a foothold through the European Cup. At some point, consistency is restored, but optimal results are lacking. Camille Rast tried to provide new impetus and changed the ski brand from Head to Salomon for the 2022/23 season. The experiment failed, and she had just one top-10 finish this winter. Rust switches back to the head.

Success is slowly coming back. First the slalom and then the giant slalom. Rust got a taste of the podium at the end of last season; after a long grind, she is close to truly living up to her promise of greatness.

She was feeling better than she had ever before this winter. “This is the first time I've had a perfect preparation for the season. No injuries, no illness, no rehab. “It makes a huge difference,” the 25-year-old told Blick. Although she was in It was her first time participating in the World Cup, but she also lost three years: “If you deduct this, I am not 25 years old, but 22 years old. Now for the first time I am truly healthy. “

A healthy Camille Rust's abilities have been impressively demonstrated so far this season. Finished fifth in Levy's slalom race. Finished third in Gurgaon Slalom – her first World Cup podium. Finished third in the Killington Giant Slalom – her first World Cup podium in the giant slalom. Finished first in the Killington slalom – her first World Cup win.

Rust's aggressiveness, looseness and near-perfect technique impress — just like she did as a junior. With strong performances early in the season, the 25-year-old currently leads the World Cup and overall slalom rankings. «This is crazy. I don't know what to say. I'm so happy. ”

She can do this too. Finally, Camille Rust, who wanted to give up skiing, reached the top of the world.