Their love was born behind the warm lights emitted by the TV at home. Susann had noticed him during an interview for Eurosport and was seduced by his gentle ways that mixed with his exuberant size. So she contacted the broadcaster to ask for a contact for that athlete: mission accomplished. From there a correspondence via email began. She lived in Zwickau, Saxony. Him in Austria.
He is Matthias Steiner, a heavyweight lifter who became famous in 2008 for a story that blends sadness and redemption. Born in 1982, he approached the discipline from a very young age, highlighting a clear talent. At home he did very well, to the point of managing to amass four national titles in four years, in the 105 kg category. However, when it came to going beyond national borders, his performances began to stutter. At an international level he suffered somewhat in both specialties of the trade, the sprint and the momentum. At the world championships, as well as at the European championships, the podium was always a longed-for mirage for him.
To add to the worst, an argument with the coach of his country’s federation had led him, at the beginning of 2000, to detach himself from the national team. However, when things are going badly, she, Susann, appears, almost to fish him out of an abyss of frustration. The distance shortens immediately and, without a screen to separate them, love blossoms fluidly. To the point that he makes a clear decision: he asks her to get married, she moves to Germany and applies for German citizenship. In the three years it takes to receive it, however, he is banned from any competition with his home country.
Love is therefore very good, but the best form has to be found again. In this period of forced oblivion, however, Steiner makes a promise to his wife: he doesn’t know how yet, he doesn’t know when yet, but will win an Olympic gold. While preparing his sporting redemption, however, he is shaken by the brutality of fate. In July 2007 Susann became involved in a tragic road accident and loses his life.
Matthias is shocked and sinks into an acute depression. He lost 8 kg in a few days, along with the will to live. But then he realizes that he has to try to move forward. That he must do it for her too. Relying on this motivation he participates in the pre-Olympic tournament in Beijing and wins it, lifting a total weight of 423 kg. In 2008 he also competed at the European championships, in the 105 kg category, and won gold. The biggest challenge, however, is yet to come.
At the Olympics, after the retirement of world record holder Hossein Rezazadeh, the duel is all between him, Evgeny Chigishev and world champion Viktor Scerbatihs. Steiner, however, got off to a bad start, failing the third attempt at the snatch and placing himself in a momentary fourth place with 203 kg lifted. The idea of gold now appears to have faded, because to reach it would require an inhuman undertaking.
Chigishev, meanwhile, leaps into the lead, gaining 250 kg in the rush. The final lift requires surpassing him by 10kg in the overall count to win the gold: given the previous failures, this seems an impracticable undertaking. Nevertheless Steiner doesn’t give up. He might try to settle for silver, because charging too much and then failing again would spell disaster. Instead load the barbell to the max. Beyond its limits. He wants to try to respect that promise.
Thus, against all odds, he squeezes out every ounce of his remaining strength and lifts 258 kg in the sprint, for a total of 461. It means Olympic gold. Matthias collapses to the ground, crying. And, once he climbs onto the top step of the podium, he smiles showing off a snapshot of his wife next to his face. To the press and to the moved public who listens to him worldwide he says: “I don’t believe in these things, but I know that today she was with me”.
Some loves don’t care about distances.
Tags: Matthias Steiner Olympic gold promise missing wife
