Sick skier Sander is fighting for his return

Ski racer Andreas Sander, who suffers from a serious cell disease, still hopes to return to the World Cup – but not this season. He is doing better, said the 35-year-old on the sidelines of the Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbühel, which he is watching as a spectator. Today (11.30 a.m./ZDF and Eurosport) the departure is on the Streif.

This winter there will be “pretty sure” no comeback, explained Sander. Getting healthy again is the priority. But he “absolutely wants to continue skiing,” said the 2021 World Cup runner-up. “I can’t say when at the moment.” He hopes to be there again next season.

There are various therapy options, said the downhill specialist. A lot of it revolves around nutrition. Overall, the body sets the pace.

Even going for a walk was difficult

Sander has been out for the entire winter. He announced in October that he had been diagnosed with mitochondrial dysfunction. This means that the mitochondria, components and energy suppliers of human cells, do not work properly.

The veteran’s comments at the time sounded dramatic. Sander reported, among other things, that he sometimes had to sit down when he went for a walk because he was so tired. He also has problems concentrating. According to his doctors, the dysfunction was a result of many infections, he said.

The road back to the World Cup is difficult, but in Kitzbühel the Ennepetaler now sounded much more confident. He couldn’t do much sport yet, explained Sander. At least he skied a little again.