Fate then played its part and, ironically as a result of her skiing injuries, the officers in charge of the flying program decided Gisin’s fragile knees would not stand the rigors of full-time military service.
“It was a risk so the decision was partly taken away from me,” Gisin told CNN’s Alpine Edge program.
“But I never regretted. I mean I love skiing with all my heart. And although I love flying, skiing was my childhood dream.
“And all the other people that were still in the selection back then, their sole dream was to fly. I think it was a fair decision.”
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“I mean in the speed disciplines it’s all about my head. If I can find the courage, if I can find the energy to race like I did in Sochi, a lot of things are possible,” she insists.
She is also a supportive figure to her 20-year-old sister Michelle, who is beginning to make a name for herself on the women’s World Cup circuit, claiming 16th in the slalom in Aspen recently.
Her 26-year-old brother Marc has also represented Switzerland on the World Cup circuit, but like his older sister has suffered a serious knee injury, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a fall in 2012.
But showing the battling spirit which is clearly a family trait he has returned to the circuit to pursue his promising career.
