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Marco Schwarz’s Training Camp Setback

Everything was almost ready for Marco Schwarz’s trip to the training camp in Chile. But things changed, and Schwarz stayed in regular phone contact with his teammates and coaches in South America. “It really hurt to lie on the couch, see the pictures from Chile, and make phone calls. Of course, the diagnosis and surgery were a big blow. I was really looking forward to Chile to build a strong foundation. But life isn’t a wish festival, and this just added to everything else.”

Now, he faces the challenge of staying patient. “I’m on a good path and feeling good,” Schwarz said. Despite the setback, he says he didn’t fall into a negative mindset.

What Happened?

Schwarz had recovered from an ACL tear, a medial meniscus tear, and cartilage damage in his right knee. He had already returned to snow for a few days when severe back pain hit him. During an online media call, Schwarz shared details about his health and plans for returning to the World Cup.

Along with the back pain, he experienced nerve issues down to his knee, which didn’t improve with therapy. An MRI showed a herniated disc as the cause. At first, he planned to treat it with therapy, but things got worse before he could start. “My lower leg felt numb, and I had tingling all the way to my toes. Despite injections, rest, and therapy, it didn’t get better, so I had to opt for surgery.”

Post-Surgery Recovery

After the surgery in late August, rest and light therapy were his main focus for the first three weeks. “I spent time with my family, and since the weather was nice, I relaxed in the sun a lot,” Schwarz said. He also picked up a book he got from Real Madrid footballer David Alaba during his knee rehab. “Now I have time to finish reading it.”

Return to Skiing

If rehab goes as planned, Schwarz will return to snow by the end of October. “Of course, I’ll still be far from racing. I’m also recovering from knee rehab. My goal is to return to the World Cup in the 2024/25 season, but the exact timing depends. I won’t rush and want to be 100% when I come back.”

Schwarz also keeps the home World Championships in Saalbach in mind. “But entirely the back of my mind,” he said. “You can’t just show up at a World Championship; you must be fit and perform. But I still want to race after the World Championships, so I won’t risk my health or put myself under pressure.”

Possible Cause of Injury

When asked if the new injury could be related to his knee rehab, Schwarz admitted it’s possible. However, he doesn’t blame overexertion from too many races as an all-rounder. “Of course, I’ve thought about it. You learn as you go. It’s definitely important to allow more time for recovery phases. But last winter, even with the heavy load, I always felt good at the start of races. Maybe the strain played a part, but no one can say for sure.”

Long-Term Goals

In the 2023/24 season, Schwarz was Austria’s biggest hope in the battle against Marco Odermatt for the overall World Cup title. His race schedule was full because of this. “If you want to compete for the big prize, you’re tempted to start in as many races as possible. My long-term goal is to get back to where I was. But for now, I’ll have to take it easy.”

Notably, Schwarz doesn’t think there are too many races in the World Cup calendar. “Not everyone has to race every discipline. You can choose that for yourself. But if you want to keep up with someone like Marco Odermatt, you must be competitive in three disciplines and still pick up points in a fourth to stay ahead.”