Olympic champion Valentin Bontus: “That was no flash in the pan”

After you won, you said you had to realise your success. Have you realised it now?

Yes, definitely now. But there are still moments when it comes back to me. Then I sit at home with goosebumps and think, it’s unbelievable.

Where does the medal have its place?

Nowhere yet. I actually take her with me to media events the whole time.

You are the first Olympic champion in this discipline, that will stay with you forever. How do you feel about that?

I am proud that I can give this sport a little bit of a path into the future. Through my presence in the media I was able to show that it exists. This might make it more of an option for young people.

How has your life changed since this Olympic victory?

Thank God it’s not that extreme in my private life. I’m not like a film star who is suddenly surrounded by paparazzi everywhere. But there is a lot of attention. And there are things that have to be dealt with. But that’s fun too. Of course there are days when it’s too much. But looking back, it’s really cool and I’m glad that I can do this sport as my job and that I’m now getting the attention that I deserve – because there’s a lot of work behind this success.

What does it mean for an athlete to be famous? Can you explain?

I believe that such success is worth a lot, especially in a small country like Austria. It opens up opportunities here, including financial ones. It is incredibly important to do this properly and correctly and to get the right people, the right advisors, on your side. There are a lot of people telling me how it will all work out. It is very, very difficult and often a burden. But I think I am dealing with it quite well and I am trying to get the most out of it.

You said that people in the kite scene sometimes tease you about why you, as an Austrian, didn’t become a skier. And then Austria wins gold in sailing and kitesurfing in France. How do you explain that?

Sailing is Austria’s most successful summer sport at the Olympic Games. I think what Austria does very well is everything around it. The hard work that goes into it – Austria can do that! And the support from the country and especially from the sailing association is just great and at such a high level that you can then deliver your performance as an athlete in the competition.

People often say: “He comes from nowhere!” But you know how much hard work is actually involved. How does that make you feel?

It is sometimes frustrating to see that outsiders don’t always understand how much work really goes into it. The planning, the traveling. You always have to drive and pull the coach’s motorboat. These are logistical challenges. The work is difficult to see from the outside. But I don’t blame anyone! The last three years have been very demanding and I put everything into it to get to the top level. The fact that I then won World Championship bronze and Olympic gold didn’t come out of nowhere and isn’t a flash in the pan either.

The Olympia 2024 project started in 2021. When does the Olympia 2028 project start?

Right now.

You’ve joked about your own stature in interviews. Your body is a topic of discussion again and again these days. How do you feel about that?

There are always situations where the media – how should I say it – doesn’t interpret it very nicely. I just take it lightly. I’m happy with my body. I’m not ashamed that I’m a bit firmer than some others. I’m over it. I think I have a good self-confidence.

They seem so carefree, always have a joke on their lips, love to party and make no secret of it. Is everyone like that in the kite world?

I actually come from a freestyle background. There it’s more like sitting on the beach with a beer. I tried to incorporate that a bit. But at some point it’s no longer possible. If you do it professionally, you can’t party at the same time. But I’m not sad about it at all.