Cross-country skiing | Tania Kurek, who bids farewell to competition this weekend, tells Nordic Magazine: “I’d rather stop before things get out of hand during preparation”

Cross-country skiing: Tania Kurek’s latest confidences

Earlier this week, Tania Kurek announced on her social networks that she had decided to call time on her cross-country skiing career . Aged 23, the cross-country skier from the Pays Rochois, who showed promise in her junior years, will never have made it past the very top level.

Before the start of the French Championships in Les Saisies (Savoie), where she will be bidding farewell to competition this weekend, Tania Kurek agreed to speak at length to Nordic Magazine. Interview.

• Why did you decide to stop your career at the end of the winter, at the age of 23?

After the complicated start to the season, I asked myself a lot of questions and I didn’t know whether things would bounce back or not. During my break in December, I took some time out to do things that I hadn’t necessarily had time to do before. Taking a step back, I told myself that it was only skiing and that I wanted to do something else with my life. I’ve been in the world of cross-country skiing for a long time and I felt that this was the end. If I went back for another winter, I felt it would be one season too many.

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• When did you make your final decision?

Deep down, I’ve been thinking about all this since January. I finalised my thoughts in February when I started competing again. I didn’t want to put any pressure on myself to have a good end to the season. With hindsight, I realised that it was complicated to take part in selections and I could see that it was going to be very complicated to get back into full preparation. I prefer to stop before things get out of hand during preparation.

• You took a break during the winter. Why did you do that?

It wasn’t just the results. In November, I had quite a few personal problems [which she doesn’t want to talk about in detail, editor’s note]. I had to sort them out and that took a huge mental toll on me throughout November. With the selections coming up, I was finding it hard to cope with all that, and physically I just couldn’t keep up… I was really tired and I arrived about ten days before the selections unable to put on a number because it was so mentally complicated for me. I wanted to keep on persevering, but the selections were a failure. Afterwards, I told myself that I couldn’t continue my season without having sorted out my problems. So I took a month and a half off before starting again.

• How did you get through this period?

It was a very complicated time and Pierre [Belingheri], my coach, helped and supported me a lot. My training team-mates, especially the girls who knew about it, were there for me a lot. The boys, too, understood that things weren’t going well and tried to be there to make things better.

• What could have kept you going?

I could have gone back for another season to try and fulfil the objectives that I didn’t achieve this year. To be clear, I wanted to take my selection in the FESA Cup and then do the World Cup in Les Rousses. That didn’t happen. So I could have gone back if I’d been able to pick up at least one selection this year. Unfortunately, I can see now that the density among the girls is enormous. When you’re in your fifth year of senior football, it’s very complicated to get into the FESA Cup. I’m not interested in playing in the French Cup for the rest of my life.

• What do you think about all those years of cross-country skiing?

I remember everything I did, where I went and who I was with. With the announcement on my social networks, a lot of memories came flooding back. All in all, I’m re-watching the film! Of course, it’s still complicated because it’s so fresh. For example, I haven’t slept in the last few nights because it’s all I can think about.

• Do you have any regrets about certain moments in your career?

I wouldn’t say I have any regrets. The level I had when I was a junior was pretty high, but then I arrived on a plateau… I just didn’t manage to find that little extra something, that little gap to go even higher, in particular the podiums in the FESA Cup to reach the World Cup. If I didn’t succeed, it’s because I didn’t have the level. Despite all that, I still took part in some great events and I had a great time during all those years. I think it’s a great record, even if it doesn’t include the World Cup!

• This weekend you’ll be taking part in your last races, but you’ve already competed in your last French club championship for SCN Pays Rochois last Sunday in Autrans (Isère)…

I cried a lot at the finish – I couldn’t calm down for an hour [laughs]! I was launched into the lead and I wanted to do a podium for the club. I was really disappointed that I didn’t make it, but it was also great to realise that it was my last race in such an important competition, the race of the year!

• Do you already know what’s coming next?

As far as my studies are concerned, I’m going to start again in October with a distance learning degree in mental preparation in Clermont-Ferrand. That will allow me to work on the side. I can’t tell you everything yet, but I’m going to stay very close to the world of cross-country skiing!

• At 23, Tania Kurek announces the end of her career