A biathlete fights for his career after tongue transplantation
Juliane Fruhwirt is heavily marked by an accident: painful surgery, tongue transplantation, job loss. Her sports career is also on the brink. But the biathlete is fighting – and wants to inspire others with her story.
Despite her tongue transplantation due to a severe racing accident, Biathlete Juliane Fruhwirt intends to make a comeback athletically this year. "I want to establish myself in the World Cup. But it's not a must anymore, I'm completely free and have a whole new gratitude, not just in sports", said the 26-year-old to the German Press Agency. She drew many positive experiences from the accident despite all the dramatic circumstances. "What others think or expect of me no longer weighs on me as heavily. That's a good feeling."
On March 21st, the ski racer from Gotha was training for a Sprint race in long-distance skiing in Austria's Galtür under adverse conditions. In a descent, she hit her left pole in the face. It pierced her left cheek, tore off a part of her tongue, broke her jaw and jawbone, and chipped her front teeth.
Fruhwirt: "Looked like Quasimodo"
She pulled the pole out herself and thought, "Damn, the race is over". Only when she realized she couldn't call for help did she know it was serious. She was first flown to a clinic in Zams by helicopter, then to Innsbruck for surgery.
"During the operation, I had the worst pains of my life. The piece of tongue was still stuck in the pole. My tongue was so swollen after the surgery that my jaw joints were protruding", said Fruhwirt, who won gold in the sprint at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics. After a part of her tongue was transplanted, she had to learn to swallow and drink again. "I looked like Quasimodo." A feeding tube rejected her; she wanted to fight. And she succeeded. Now only a small scar on her cheek remains as a reminder of the injury.
Her parents, friends, and home trainers, including Bernhard Kröll, who had already trained Magdalena Neuner and Laura Dahlmeier, were always by her side. She is deeply grateful to them all. Fruhwirt began preparing for the new season again in May. 100 days after the accident, she participated in the Stubai Ultratrail K 70 and completed an impressive 63 kilometers.
Civil Service position at the Customs lost
After the accident, she lost her civil service position at the Customs due to poor performance in the previous season. That was hard. But she saw it as an opportunity and started working independently in the coaching sector. "That gives me an incredible amount to learn, I can help my clients realize their dreams."
Her dream of the World Cup has not yet given up Fruhwirt. But above all, she wants to help others with her story. "The accident showed me that we have the opportunity to inspire people in competitive sports", said the 26-year-old. Many wrote to her that her story had given them strength and motivation. "If I've helped just one person, that's worth it for me."
Despite her setbacks, Biathlete Juliane Fruhwirt still plans to compete in the biathlon discipline this year, showcasing her resilience and determination. Her love for biathlon extends beyond the World Cup, as she hopes to inspire others with her tales of overcoming adversity.
