Tatjana Paller has been among the top athletes in German ski mountaineering since 2020 and combines her sporting career with studies at the Department Health and Sport Sciences in the field of “Sport Teaching at Realschule Level.” Growing up in Lenggries, the Upper Bavarian developed a connection to the mountains from an early age. First alpine skiing, then a professional career in cycling, and finally ski mountaineering.

At the 2026 Olympic Games, Tatjana Paller demonstrated great fighting spirit: In the sprint, she narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth by just 3.04 seconds. In the mixed relay, she and Finn Hösch placed seventh.

Tatjana Paller spoke with the Department Media and Communications about her Olympic experiences and her studies, which she has been pursuing at the Department Health and Sport Sciences since the winter semester 2019/2020.

Tatjana Paller, how did you experience the moment when you competed at the Olympic Games for the first time?

“The moment was simply incredible. I had worked towards it for so long, and suddenly I realized that I had achieved a goal I had dreamed of since childhood. It was not only pure joy, but also a lot of tension and pressure in the days beforehand because I knew how important this moment was. Nevertheless, what prevails for me is the overwhelming feeling of having achieved something special. A moment I will never forget, and proof that hard work and training really pay off.”

You finished fourth in the sprint and missed a medal by only a few seconds. Does pride in your performance now outweigh the disappointment of narrowly missing the podium?

“Of course, as an athlete you want a medal; nobody wants to finish fourth. But by now, pride in what I achieved outweighs everything else for me. I prepared intensively for the competition, gave everything, and after a difficult start, when the starting signal was missing and I set off last, I fought my way forward to fourth place. I tried everything to achieve the best possible result. I cannot blame myself for anything.”

Ski mountaineering was an Olympic discipline for the first time. What fascinates you most about this sport?

“Fundamentally, I love being in the mountains. For me, ski mountaineering is an exciting mix of endurance, because I have to go uphill, and technique, because downhill skills are also required. I need explosive power, endurance, coordination, and the ability to push my own limits. Especially in sprinting, I have to be fast and powerful, while at the same time having the endurance to last the whole day, because the competitions are very long. In addition, there is the technique involved in transitions and, of course, skiing itself. This combination is what makes the sport so special to me. Its versatility and the demands on every level – physical, technical, and mental – make it incredibly interesting.”

After narrowly missing participation in track cycling in 2016, you have now competed at the Olympics in ski mountaineering. What personal significance did this second chance have for you?

“When I switched from cycling to ski mountaineering back then, I did not even know that the sport would one day become Olympic. I simply did it out of passion because the sport fascinated me and because it has been my natural element since childhood. I only learned two years later that ski mountaineering had actually become Olympic. My immediate thought was: ‘Wow, now I might still be able to make this Olympic dream come true.’ That is why I gave it everything once again and trained more professionally, because I definitely did not want to miss this opportunity.”

What do you take away from the Olympic Games for your further sporting development? What goals do you have for the coming years?

“I very much hope that the sport will become Olympic again, because it was well received and generated a lot of attention. My goal is definitely to compete again in 2030, ideally to climb from fourth place onto the podium and finally fulfill my dream of winning a medal. At the same time, I am very satisfied with how my life is going. I can fully concentrate on sport, I am financially secure through the Bundeswehr, and I have a structure that allows me to combine training and studies optimally. I simply want to continue, make intensive use of the coming years, stay focused, not lose the enjoyment of sport, and approach competition mentally a little more calmly with the knowledge gained from my first Olympic experience.”

How do you like studying “Sport Teaching at Realschule Level” at TUM, and how do you manage to combine training and university life?

“I like the degree program very much. I only have a few exams left, which I can combine well with sport. I especially enjoy the sports courses at the TUM Campus in the Olympiapark, because I like trying out new sports, putting myself in the athletes’ position, and trying to improve athletically. TUM gives me the opportunity to combine theory and practice in the best possible way. Even though we travel a lot in winter, I was always able to keep the focus on my training and organize my studies so that both work. The lecturers are extremely understanding because they come from sport themselves. This means I always feel the support of the university and of the Department of Health and Sport Sciences.”

What do you think: how does your experience as a high-performance athlete help you in your future profession as a teacher?

“High-performance sport teaches discipline, perseverance, and determination – qualities that are valuable in every profession, but especially as a teacher. You learn to set goals, stay committed, and keep going even under difficult conditions. I can authentically pass on my own passion for sport, motivate pupils, and show them how training and dedication can help you achieve something. For me, that is a major advantage and will certainly make working as a teacher more exciting and credible.”

Article: Bastian Daneyko
Photos: Nils Lang/Leon Hösch