analysis
After a successful summer, Philipp Raimund is the hope of the German ski jumpers this winter. But the 25-year-old remains relaxed – after all, he knows the role of the beacon of hope only too well.
The overall victory at the Summer Grand Prix was a big exclamation mark from Raimund. The Göttingen native is the best jumper of the summer. He is the first German to do so since Andreas Wellinger twelve years ago.
Raimund wins that one Summer Grand Prix: “Feels unreal”
He hasn’t really realized his success yet. “It feels somehow unreal,” said Raimund in the BR24Sport interview on the sidelines of the DSV outfit in Nuremberg at the end of October. The Oberstdorf native says he would “do it even better if I could get the thing in the winter.”
Raimund satisfied: “I managed to raise my basic level”
He can be that too. At the end of last winter, Raimund was already showing rising form with top five placements at the World Championships in Trondheim and at the World Cups in Olso and Lahti. In the summer he went one step further. “I managed to raise my basic level and get more stability, calm and harmony in my jumps,” says Raimund, analyzing his success. Extremely important for a ski jumper who is constantly on the hunt for the perfect feeling of flying.
Raimund doesn’t want to put any pressure on himself
The 25-year-old has been jumping in the World Cup since 2019, and he now knows: “I just have to relax more and stay relaxed and then it will work better.” That’s why he tried to put less pressure on himself.
In contrast to many other jumpers, he also benefited from adjustments to his suits. “I have a completely different feeling of flying and was forced to do more myself in flight.” As a result, he concentrated more on his “construction site” and worked on his flight.
Raimund agrees this time Expectation pressure stood?
Now it’s time to transfer these flying skills gained on mats to the snow – and not let the public influence you. “I know that I start the winter as the strongest summer jumper. That also means that there are expectations on me,” Raimund is aware of this. But he has enough expectations of himself to ignore those of the public.
Three years ago, Raimund didn’t do it so well. From the Continental Cup, the then 22-year-old newcomer became the best DSV eagle in the Four Hills Tournament, jumped into the top 15 every time and ultimately secured twelfth place in the overall ranking of the tour at his premiere. But as a result Raimund fell away.
Raimund in front of his Olympic premiere
Now the man from SC Obersdorf is back and still ambitious: “We have a small shelf where we put trophies. My trophy and my starting number from Lake Placid (first World Cup victory in the team) are on it and now the big glass trophy is there too.”
And there would also be room for more medals and trophies, revealed Raimund. There are plenty of opportunities this winter – with one big highlight. “I’m really looking forward to the Olympics and can’t wait.” For Raimund it will be his Olympic premiere.