Goodbye Martin Schmitt – a legend retires!

Goodbye Martin Schmitt – a legend retires!

31/01/2014 19:57

Thank you Martin Schmitt for the memories: Photo by Kathrin Müller © Skijumpingitaly Today the skijumping career of Martin Schmitt officially came to an end as he told on a press conference in Willingen. Between the first and the second round of the first competition in Willingen he will be seen off after 17 years in the Worldcup, 28 WC victories, 4 World-Championship titles and 1 Olympic gold medal. His career started in 1997 where he made his first World Cup at the 4 Hills Tournament in Innsbruck. Since this date things went steep uphill for Martin. Only some weeks after his first World Cup he won the bronze medal with the team at the World Championships in Trondheim, the first out of 10. Also at his first Olympics in Nagano 1998 he one a medal directly as got the silver medal with the team. The years from 1998 until 2001 must have been like a dream for him. Together with Sven Hannawald he made his sport ski jumping very popular in Germany and got the people to the hill. 1999 and 2000 he was able to win the overall World Cup and was the last German who could do this. His biggest success besides winning the overall WC definetly was the Olympic gold medal with the team in 2002 in Salt Lake City. After 2002 his best times in the World Cup were done but he always fought and trained hard to stay in the German team. 2005, 2009 and 2011 he was in the Team which won the silver medal in the World Championships and also he won his 3rd Olympic medal in Vancouver 2010 with the Team after the 2006 Olympics in Turin were not really good. This season was really hard for Martin Schmitt but he tried to reach his Olympic dream again. Because of the very strong young athletes he had to compete in the COC first. For the 4 Hills Tournament he was competing in the national group and reached the second round only in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. With this result he had no chance to get a nomination. His last World Cup podium was 2009 in Innsbruck – where everything started for him 12 years before. Now we have to say goodbye to one of the best Skijumpers Germany ever had. With 36 years he gives no way for the next generation of jumpers and starts his “second life”. His plan is to become a coach and maybe we will see him in the nearer future again in the World Cup – but this time as a coach. We all say thank you Martin, for your great jumps, big victories and thrilling competitions. All the best for your future, stay as you are. Biggest Achievements: Olympic Games– gold medal with the team in Salt Lake City 2002 + silver in Nagano 1998 and Vancouver 2010 Overall World Cup – Winner in 1999 and 2000 World Championships – 10 medals, 4 of them in gold

• Caro Steinhäuser

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