Top athlete

Sitting in the cozy living room, Sandra tells me how it all began. "I’ve always loved being outdoors. Hiking, skiing, and enjoying nature have been part of my life since childhood." She was a natural athlete, excelling in physical education at school, and even played for the women's football club C.F. Südtirol. Studying sports science at the University of Innsbruck was an obvious next step, though she had to refine her swimming skills to pass the entrance exam. For a born athlete like her, that was no major obstacle.

Her career in competitive sports, however, started unexpectedly. One summer in Apulia, while working as a swimming instructor, a triathlete spontaneously asked if she wanted to join a triathlon. Without much thought, she agreed. That first race in Apulia marked the beginning of a journey that she still enjoys to this day.

"My partner is also my coach," she explains. "And this mix of personal and professional relationship works surprisingly well." She tells me about the deep trust she has in Roberto Crisi and the clear communication they’ve developed, both in sports and in life. This support allows her to balance intense training with her teaching career, using every free moment to prepare for races.

When I ask her what it’s like to compete as a woman in a male-dominated sport, her answer is refreshingly confident: "We race on exactly the same courses as the men. Women often take longer, but for me, the real challenge is mental endurance." Giving up was never an option for her. "I enjoy it too much to stop."

As we wrap up our conversation, I ask about her goals for the upcoming season. The HERO Dolomites and the XTerra World Championship are already on her calendar, but in the future, she plans to focus more on mountain biking. She wants to see how far she can go – while still having fun.

And that’s the key takeaway from this conversation: we can achieve great things without constantly feeling pressured to be at the top. A reassuring and inspiring thought.