Verena Bentele on salaries at the Paralympics, her work as president of the social association VdK, rents in Munich – and the trust you need as a blind athlete.
Interview by
Thomas Öchsner and Paulina Würminghausen
When Verena Bentele, 39, wants to achieve a goal, she subordinates almost everything to it. That was already the case back then as a top athlete: The blind biathlete and cross-country skier won gold at the Paralympics twelve times. She can also use her perseverance for her current job: Today she is the president of the largest social association in Germany, the VdK. During the video call she gets up from time to time to show one of her little helpers: a color recognition device. She holds it to her blouse. “Beige light gray,” says a mechanical voice. Devices like this replace Bentele’s eyes – and help her to find her way around independently in everyday life.