“At the moment, I’m simply not able to climb the way I want to. It just doesn’t feel right — not like myself. I think the most important thing now is to recharge and recover, even if it hurts to miss the chance to compete in front of a home crowd in Innsbruck this year,” the six-time world champion announced at a press conference on Wednesday.
New treatment approach
Just last week, Schubert claimed his 13th national lead title at the Austrian Championships during the Sport Austria Finals powered by Österreichische Lotterien. Afterwards, he remained unsure whether his finger issues would allow for a World Cup appearance. “It’s a very complex injury. Up to a certain level, I can still limb — but the closer I get to my limit, the more the injury holds me back. It also depends a lot on how the routes are set. There are just some holds I can’t grip the way I need to,” Schubert explained.
One reason for stepping back is a new treatment method. After several months without lasting improvement, Schubert is hoping this new approach will lead to long-term recovery. “I had a really good conversation with a German specialist, who is both an experienced climber and a doctor. We’ve mapped out a new therapy that sounds promising. I’ve truly tried everything over the past months — shockwave therapy, various treatments, platelet-rich plasma therapy. Some things helped temporarily, but nothing brought lasting results.”
“Not an easy decision”
Originally, Schubert had planned to kick off his World Cup season in Innsbruck. In front of his home fans, he’s taken two World Cup victories in the past four years, plus World Championship gold in 2018. “Of course, this wasn’t an easy decision — neither for my head nor my heart. It hurts not to compete here in Innsbruck. I know many people were looking forward to watching me, maybe even bought tickets especially for it. I have so many wonderful memories here — of the Worlds, of World Cups, of last year’s home win. Those are moments you want to relive every year. But I hope that today’s decision is exactly what will make that possible — so I can come back stronger next time.”
The 34-year-old from Innsbruck is doing his best to stay positive. “Luckily, I’ve had very few injuries in my career so far. And up to now, they’ve all healed sooner or later. Right now, I’m at a point where I feel hopeful again — and that’s a good feeling, too.”
