They are the gold women of the year 2026. Saber fencer Larissa Eifler sensationally became world champion. With this weapon it was the first major title ever for a German. Bobsleigh pilot Laura Nolte repeated her Olympic victory from 2022 at the Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo and won gold in the two-man bobsleigh with Deborah Levi. In the monob she narrowly missed out on triumph and took silver.
Question: Ms. Nolte and Ms. Eifler, how much do you notice each other's successes?
Nolte: Of course I saw your gold all over social media. That was really a big thing and super cool.
Eifler: I watched the Olympic Games on television and thought it was amazing how your entire bobsleigh team did everything. It was overwhelming, I could barely keep up with counting.
Question: Winter sports are regularly shown on television, fencing is only shown at major events and then more on sports channels. How jealous are you of the long TV channels in winter?
Eifler: Not jealous because I begrudge Laura and the others, but of course I would like more visibility for my sport. The fundamental problem with fencing is that it is extremely difficult for spectators to follow what is happening. The hits often come in less than two seconds. Maybe something can be developed using AI to make fencing more spectator-friendly.
Question: Women's sports are broadcast less frequently in comparison. How big is the backlog?
Nolte: There is already some demand, starting in football, but also for us in bobsleigh. The men have significantly more airtime. So far we've been there at least on Saturdays and Sundays when it's broadcast on TV. But now the competition schedule is being changed so that our monobob races are postponed a few times to Fridays, when there are usually only live streams. Then I think to myself: The men's twosome could have been scheduled for Friday. There are often only summaries of our races, while the men can be seen live.
Eifler: Fortunately, things are different when it comes to fencing. The competition days are designed in such a way that men and women take turns and then both are shown. There is relatively good equality compared to other sports.
Question: Despite all your successes, what crises have you had to overcome?
Eifler: I fell into a hole in 2024 after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the Olympics. Then I asked myself whether I still wanted all of this. I was a bit aimless and without a plan because I had been working towards the Olympics for years and then this big goal fell away. Since the visibility in fencing is otherwise so low, you get the feeling that you've only made it if you're at the Olympics. So I took a break to reorient myself and see if my passion and my fun factor were still there. After a while, I realized that I missed it and that I was still passionate about it. Now I want to attack for the 2028 Olympics.
Nolte: I've had a lot of falls in my career. Especially when I learned to drive a bobsleigh. There was a lot of doubt from outside about whether I could do it at all. At some point I was no longer sure myself. But giving up wasn't an option for me. In 2020, I had a fall during my first appearance on a big stage, at the World Cup. Of course, that felt like the lowest point of my life. Then I thought everything was over. That was bad. My environment helped me there, my team with Debbie (leader Levi; editor). I also worked with a sports psychologist. That's how I worked my way out of it and became Olympic champion in 2022.
Question: You are both sports soldiers in the Bundeswehr. Who has the higher rank?
Nolte: I'm a sergeant.
Eifler: Oh, great, I'm a staff sergeant. I'm still missing the last course.
Question: Funding is a central part of financing your sport. You won your world title without a personal sponsor, Ms. Eifler. Is something happening there?
Eifler: Yes, unfortunately I haven't had any private sponsors so far. But a little something is happening at the moment. Luckily I have the reliable income from the Bundeswehr plus the Sporthilfe support. Since you don't really earn anything from fencing, I'm also doing my studies to have some security for the time after the sport.
Question: One wears a helmet, the other wears a mask. Would you like to be able to show yourself more to the fans?
Nolte: When I have the helmet on, I am more alone. But it would definitely be good for our sport and our popularity if people could see a little more of us and our faces. At the finish we quickly take off our helmets and put on our hats. But these are just short sequences.
Eifler: We once had a more transparent mask where you could see the eyes. When I put on the mask, I immerse myself in my own world. Then I'm in my fight mode. When you win, many people immediately tear off their masks and start screaming. Then cool pictures emerge.
Question: Your sports became Olympic for women relatively late: two-man bobsleigh in 2002, saber fencing only in 2004. Why did it take so long?
Nolte: For a long time women were probably not allowed to do this. It's crazy that it took so long. For years, the men had two disciplines, and the women weren't there at all and then only competed in pairs until 2018. Then the monobob was added in 2022. Now we also have a second discipline, but the four-man bobsleigh would have been even nicer because then more women would have a chance of winning medals. But it is at least a step in the right direction. We have shown over the years that we can do it just as well as the men.
Eifler: Women's fencing has actually been around with the foil since 1924, but the saber was the last thing to be added 22 years ago (for men since 1896; editor). It's cool and also represents today's times that it's finally possible. Fortunately, it is now a given that women are there.
Question: How did you get into your sport?
Eifler: I come from a family of fencers. It was clear to me from the start. That was the most fun for me too. Of course, I also tried out a dance club or an athletics club. But fencing is something special.
Nolte: I first did athletics and then was asked if I would like to try bobsledding. Despite many falls at the beginning, I stuck with it.
Question: You both have a degree in addition to sports: Laura has a bachelor's degree in business psychology, Larissa is doing a master's degree in psychology. What fascinates you about the subject?
Nolte: I already studied psychology in high school and found it super exciting. However, I couldn't imagine working in a practice, but rather in business. During my studies I had 80 percent psychology. I think I was also able to gain a lot from the mental component of the sport. I'm not doing a master's degree for now. The sport and the company that I run as a bobsleigh pilot are already a lot.
Eifler: I can well understand why you are postponing your master's degree. I'm currently doing it alongside sport and notice that it's significantly more demanding than the bachelor's degree. I got into it when I worked with a sports psychologist for the first time and I really liked it. So I decided to study and can well imagine pursuing a career in sports psychology in the future.
