By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games demand special efforts from the family of German speed skater Finn Sonnekalb.
While the 18-year-old carries hopes for Germany's first men's speed skating medal since 2002 and arrives comfortably by plane, his father, Gerrit Schadler, faces a lonely challenge through ice and snow.
The father of the three-time 2024 Youth Olympics gold medalist is settling a bet by biking 800 kilometers from the family's home in Erfurt, Germany, to Milan.
"In 2024, I told him I would take the bike if he qualified for the 2026 Games," Schadler said, adding that he plans to rely on special clothing to withstand winter conditions while riding his gravel bike.
The journey is expected to take around ten days, allowing him to arrive in time for his son Finn's first starts in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter events.
Only a small Olympic flag on the luggage rack hints at the unusual mission, with Schadler "covering around 130 kilometers per day."
Bike tours, sometimes lasting several months across Europe, have long been a constant adventure for the sports-loving family.
When Finn was six years old and heading toward a bike rack, a chocolate Santa Claus altered his plans and sparked his interest in skating.
"Competitive biking was only allowed from the age of seven, so we gave skating a try," the sporty father recalled.
After a series of successful competitions in the youth ranks, the breakthrough and Olympic qualification came in 2025 at a World Cup event in Salt Lake City.
Clocking 1 minute and 41.33 seconds in the 1,500 meters, the youngster set a youth world record and showed he was ready for more, while the family back home went into a frenzy in front of the computer, streaming the race and wearing glasses shaped like the Olympic rings.
"Our vacations over the years have always been adventures," said Finn's mother Madlen, adding that "Finn has naturally developed strong sporting qualities."
Along with smooth skating skills on the ice, a competitive mindset has also taken shape.
"You have to be ready to go beyond the puke barrier," Finn said, admitting that he enjoys pushing himself to new limits.
Despite the great expectations on his shoulders, the young athlete appears relaxed. "I do my thing and see what happens. I don't feel pressure from the outside, as the Olympics are something very special," he said.
The family's rising star also acknowledged that he is entering unfamiliar territory. "I'm used to winning and can hardly imagine what it feels like to lose," he said.
A medal, Finn believes, is within reach and firmly on his mind. His father's bike adventure across the Alps provides additional motivation. "I cherish his effort to see me competing at the Olympics. It gives me a special drive to pay him back," the rising German speed skating star said. ■
