For Andreas Wellinger, the start of the 73rd Four Hills Tournament did not go as hoped, in contrast to last year. Wellinger is familiar with highs, but also with falls.
(Almost) nothing can surprise Andreas Wellinger anymore. When he talks about his great passion for ski jumping, his eyes light up and as a listener you get goosebumps. The 29-year-old has already celebrated many World Cup successes and collected many medals at Nordic World Championships and the Olympic Games.
As a 17-year-old he celebrated his World Cup debut, as an 18-year-old his first World Cup victory and his first Olympic team medal. Shortly afterwards, the first serious ski jumping accident followed, with surgery, rehabilitation and everything that went with it.
Victory in Oberstdorf is one of them Favorite moments
Andreas Wellinger always wants to be at the top. There is no half throttle with him. Unfortunately, only one can be the best every day. “The more often I can be like that, the nicer it is, of course.” If you ask Andreas Wellinger about his top three favorite moments, the opening competition of the 72nd Four Hills Tournament is definitely there. On December 29th, 2023, Andreas Wellinger won in Oberstdorf and was celebrated by the spectators and teammates.
“Winning at home is something very, very special. Winning at home with 25,000 spectators, where 95 percent are singing along to the German anthem, I couldn’t have dreamed of it.”he says. TV viewers also enjoy the ski jumping euphoria. The ratings are top, there are many headlines with one man at the center of the tour: Andreas Wellinger.
Wellinger’s dream of winning the 2023/2024 tour
He is also on the podium at the New Year’s competition and the hope of an overall German tour triumph for 22 years continues. Even if on January 6th, 2024 someone else will be at the front: the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayshi. The memories of the special moment in Oberstdorf, the very special World Cup victory, are right at the top of his “top three favorite list”. Olympic moments are very close behind.
The fact that he celebrated his Olympic victory in Pyoengchang in 2018 is a highlight for all ski jumping fans. But first Andreas Wellinger mentions the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. “It’s just awesome, indescribable, I can’t really believe it,” said Wellinger, who was 18 at the time. At first he had a bit of bad luck in the individual competition and was eliminated in the first round in 50th place.
Wellinger was completely frustrated with his Olympic debut. But then national coach Werner Schuster put his trust in him and nominated him for the team competition. “As an 18-year-old, I was the chick in the group. Then there are four of you, whether things go well or badly. That’s team spirit, which is different than in an individual competition.”
After his own top jumps, Andreas Wellinger and his teammates Andreas Wank and Marinus Kraus are waiting for the final jumper, Severin Freund. After he jumped far and landed well, the four DSV eagles stand arm in arm in the run-out and wait for the result. When first place lights up and Olympic gold is secured, images of celebration emerge that Wellinger and all ski jumping freaks still enjoy watching.
Olympic victory in Pyeongchang overwhelms Wellinger
The pictures four years later at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang are perhaps even more beautiful: In the windy, long competition on the normal hill, Andreas Wellinger, who had previously been in fifth place, showed a top jump in the final, then the long wait in the “leader box” began. – after midnight the historic success is complete: Andreas Wellinger is Olympic champion.
“It wasn’t just the cold and the wind that made my eyes a little wet, but it was really the overwhelmingness of the situation that made me become an Olympic champion”he remembers this special moment that overwhelmed him at the time. At these games, Wellinger collected even more medals: silver on the large hill and silver with the team. They are beautiful memories. He also has this from many world championships, where he celebrated successes individually and with the team. You can talk to him for hours about special triumphs. However, his ski jumping story also includes frustrations, disappointments and injuries.
Wellinger puts his suffering behind him
The fact that in the meantime there was a wait of almost six years for a World Cup victory, that as the leader in the RAW Air series he was let down by the jury in the final of the last competition and was blown away by the wind, that he was already 18 year-old had a serious fall with shoulder dislocation, surgery and a forced break – none of that is important to him anymore. Wellinger said he learned a lot from it. The serious knee injury during a training jump in June 2019 and the eight months of rehab, the entire year without ski jumping, were also used positively in retrospect.
At the age of 29, Andreas Wellinger listens to his body. “I’m basically an old man and I always have one or two aches and pains”he says with a smile, knowing exactly when to be careful so that his back doesn’t hurt. His strengths are jumping and the feeling of flying, says Andreas Wellinger. If he can transfer his energy cleanly into the flight when he jumps, then he can stand where he prefers to be: on the podium.
The family provided enormous support for Wellinger
Regardless of whether you are flying high or falling: the head always plays an extremely important role, says Wellinger. His environment and family are the most important thing. That’s exactly why he wants to protect his privacy. If his girlfriend is followed by journalists or photographers, as she was on the last tour, Andreas Wellinger doesn’t think it’s okay. Otherwise, he is a “Mr. Charming”, a sunny boy who takes a lot of time for autographs, selfies and small talk for the fans after the competition.
He also lets anyone interested share a bit of his leisure time on Facebook and Instagram: whether it’s photos of the Christmas tree or pictures of surfing action in the summer – he is aware of his role in the public eye. He always wants to put on a good show. The ambitious Wellinger always gives his all, wants to learn new things and tries to be the best.
Whether it’s a wakeboarding course at the ski jumpers’ summer training camp, a private visit to the Olympic Games in Paris (including a basketball match with fans in the German house) or tennis training in Siegsdorf with Pius Paschke – Wellinger goes full throttle here too.
Wellinger begrudges Paschke his success
Andreas Wellinger wholeheartedly congratulates his 34-year-old teammate for his successes this season, saying that the ski jumping team spirit works first-class and every podium finish is celebrated by the whole team.
Andreas Wellinger’s big wish: that at least one of the DSV Eagles can be at the forefront again on this tour. Of course, it would be particularly nice if he himself gave the fans reason to cheer again with long jumps.