Violetta OBLINGER-PETERS (AUT)
Austria
Age:
47 years
Languages:
English, French, German, Spanish
Federation:
OESTERREICHISCHER KANUVERBAND
Biography
Further Personal Information
NICKNAME
Vio, Lettchen, Violine, Speed Machine, Frau Gscheit
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
Schärding
OCCUPATION
Serves in the Army
HIGHER EDUCATION
Psychology - University of Salzburg: Austria
WHEN/WHERE DID YOU START CANOEING/ KAYAKING?
She began paddling in 1992 in Schwerte, Germany
REASON FOR TAKING UP THE SPORT
"The thrill of whitewater in combination with technical requirements makes canoe slalom such an interesting and challenging sport."
HOBBIES
Learning about foreign cultures and languages, psychology, spending time with her sons
CLUB
Forelle Teefix Steyr: Steyr, AUT
NAME OF COACH
Michael Seibert [national], GER; Helmut Oblinger [husband], AUT
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT YEAR
1997
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT COUNTRY
France
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL DEBUT COMPETITION
World Cup
MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN CAREER
Her husband and her parents
HERO/IDOL
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer
SPORTING PHILOSOPHY/ MOTTO
"It is the sail, not the wind, that determines the direction."
OTHER INFORMATION
OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION She secured a quota place for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in the Women's K-1 with her performance at the World Cup in London in September 2015. (salzburg.com, 19 Sep 2015) HIGHER EDUCATION She has a master's degree in international business and cultural studies from the University of Passau in Germany. (wildwater.at, 07 May 2015) MEDICAL CONDITION She underwent heart surgery in 2008 after discovering she was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia. (diepresse.com, 15 Aug 2008)
SPORTING RELATIVES
Her father Wolfgang Peters represented West Germany in canoe slalom and was C1 world champion in 1967 and 1969. Her uncle Ulrich Peters also competed for West Germany and was K1 world champion in 1975. Her husband Helmut Oblinger has represented Austria in the sport. He finished 32nd in K1 at the 2015 European Championships in Markkleeberg, Germany. He retired in 2015. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Sep 2015; wildwater.at, 07 May 2015; Athlete, 08 Feb 2004; kurier.at, 07 Oct 2015)
OTHER SPORTS
She competed in rhythmic gymnastics until she was age 14
