She is blind – but incredibly fast

you can distinguish light and Dark, and nothing else. You can slow and run fast, and that means everything to her. Chantal Cavin is, since she was 14-years old, blind. And Chantal Cavin is, since she was born, a "Zwaschpel", she says. One that needs a lot of movement, so you is probably, a that give your body the movement. Even if it is handicapiert for decades. The from Berne says that the services that they provide, made them infinitely happy. "You show me my strength, although I have a weakness with the body."

Cavin is 41 years old and visually impaired, since they hit in the Judo hard with the back of the head, bleeding in the eyesight suffered, and from today to tomorrow blind. From today to tomorrow was dependent on other people, always, in everything, in every Situation. The independence lost, and as a Teenager. In the age in which man struggles freely, and gradually becomes independent. "Since then," she says, "I am always a Team, I can provide my services even alone, I can and must never be selfish."

Hauert levels points the way: ". Flat. Levels. Links"

The trail leads to the foot of the Lorraine bridge in Bern, then take a sharp left up the steep, about a hundred levels long, and spiral staircase down to the river Aare. Cavin goes forward, the left Arm easily led by Céline Hauert. With the former elite runner and another "Guide" Cavin is riding on next Sunday in Zurich is a repeat of the Marathon best. The two have known each other for a long time and therefore good. You chat about this and that, and in the meantime, if you watch carefully, you can hear how Hauert Cavin leads the way, of also a See all the attention demanded: "levels. Flat. Levels. Flat. On the left. Flat. Levels."

The "Zwaschpel" did not interfere at that time. As a teacher, found that she should come with her to Swim, that made Cavin. "Me was no matter what – the main thing is that movement," she says. And, of course, was there, too, in spite of straight track, and dividing lines, in need of help. When it was time to turn in, typed a helper for the swimmer with a long rod on the head. It is almost 18-year-old's swimming career was rich at the beginning of a fame. From sports performance, sport, Cavin is the best visually-impaired swimmer in the world (over 800 and 1500 metres). Cavin won the European championship and world Cup titles, took part in the London 2012 to the Paralympic Games and reached, what fills you today with Pride: she swam a world record. World record in the 100 m Crawl, the king's discipline. "It was in Durban, the record was 22-years-old, it was crazy," she says.

The photo shoot on the river Bank is over, Cavin and Hauert have back-to-back on tree trunks, walked towards the photographer a few times, in the arms of a thread that connects them and with the Hauert Cavin, respectively. They met nine years ago, randomly in the indoor swimming pool, each of them had as their Standard wardrobe kästli the same. So they came into the conversation, the successful swimmer, the require no longer wanted to Run because she was in the water faster. And the runner, the later had to bury their own dreams because of a knee injury, and on their studies concentrated. Hauert, a 30-year-old says: "I competed in 2016 my last Competition. That I can help someone else to achieve his goals, makes me very happy."

In 3:16 hours Cavin has completed three years ago, her first Marathon, without specifically to prepare. It is a outstanding time you improved later on 3:14, because it is difficult to find suitable leaders. "Who is in this area that would like to run his own, good race," says Cavin and understand. In Zurich you will be with two Guides on the go. Will start with Micah Güdel, also a longtime friend. "In the second half, he then goes his own way," she says. Then takes Hauert. Güdel will tell her shortly, as the run proceeded until the half marathon mark. It is a responsible task that requires the full trust Cavins. Hauert says: "the fact That Chantal runs very smoothly, and we know each other well, helps tremendously. I don't need to traveling much to say. In Zurich there are tracks, especially the tram, which I will inform you."

In the papers told you from the be different and tactics

Cavin laughs and then tells how they have understood years ago, once a Guide is wrong. "Ast" have this said and you ducked. Unfortunately, however, it was not a drooping tree Branch, but a on the ground lying around. "I stürchelte over, nothing happened Serious, since they refer to Branches on the ground than roots."

on the banks of the Aare, in the former brewery Gassner, works Cavin. Here she is, assistant to the managing Director of Maru Dojo, a center for martial arts and health. In addition, she is project Manager Junior at Plusport, disabled sports Association of Switzerland. Cavin has visited the sports school and as a Talent a lot of time to Train. After that, you worked a long time on a bench. Today, you will be engaged from time to time for presentations, the main theme is "Together we are stronger"-tactic – who would know this better than you? But it also speaks about the otherness, and if it is to characterize, she says: "I'm just not an endurance animal." That's why she turned to the Swim and before the Run for the Triathlon. Not the short distances, the "Zwaschpel" went the Whole hog: the Ironman distance. 3.8 km Swimming, 180 km Cycling (on a Tandem), 42,195 km run. "The first Time I wanted to come to the finish, the second Time faster, and the third Time, I needed 10:34 hours," she says – as if it were a matter of course. It was, of course, it's a super power, with the help of Cavin at Challenge Roth in 2016 (Ger) 27. 497 classified women comparison: Daniela Ryf, the world's best, won 2018) (at the world Championships in Hawaii in 8:26 hours.

it Asks you for the ambition you undoubtedly transmissions had to be, she finds the expression of "negative". "It sounds like hard sports. I don't, it is a passion. I am a passionate Athlete." And Hauert supplemented, Cavin was first and foremost a "very positive person".

That she has once seen, takes in the Sport a big advantage

Cavin at your place of work, the floors. And if she points with an outstretched Arm and says, "here's to the right of the physiotherapist and the Osteopath have your space," sounds a voice, as she saw all of that every day. But Cavin has not seen the pink exercise ball in the corner, the purple yoga mats on the shelf. She had the light in their eyes, however, once, "this is the Sport a huge advantage over those who are blind from birth. I was able to learn for 14 years, movements, and imitate," she says. You know what is a failure step, how to do that, if you had to make this bigger. "I know what it is, when someone speaks from the Barbell bench-press." Blind from birth would have to be taught each movement from scratch.

over the years, it has developed a network of people who will be riding with her training and competitions to best their Guides. "Is not exaggerated," she says, and speaks of the bone. Initially, you have written to sports clubs, whether it would be interested for something like that. The response was practically zero. Then you have studied rankings of runs in the area and specifically runners. "That took courage, has brought me but not a lot." Currently your five runners for competitions are available and a further seven for training, most of them for years. You have put together your training plan once, it makes the poll: Who when what?

Now, therefore, in Zurich. Target the best time is in the second line. Primary, you want to make Frankfurt forget. There Cavin had quit in October, she felt comfortable with. Why, don't know you until today. This weakness will you meet with strength. As always, since you can only distinguish between light and Dark.

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 21.04.2019, 14:46 PM