interview
Ski jumper Katharina Schmid speaks in the winter sports podcast about her long fight for recognition in women’s ski jumping, about structural hurdles and why milestones such as the Four Hills Tournament, which will probably also take place for women next year, are long overdue.
Sports show: When you look back on your career, was there a moment when you realized that women in ski jumping not only fight for distances and victories, but also for recognition?
Katharina Schmid: Yes, there was such a moment. As a child, when I first started, my teacher asked me what my goal was. I meant: Participation in the Olympic Games. He then said that they weren’t even available for women. And I just thought: Oh, strange, that doesn’t even exist.
But I still set that in my head as a goal back then. And I’m really glad that it exists now. But at some point you realize: Hey, we’re not allowed to do exactly the same things as the boys. We don’t have the opportunity to do the same thing, even though we train the same thing.
Sports show: Now there is probably the next milestone: the Four Hills Tournament for women. Shouldn’t the tour have been available to women long ago?
Smith: It’s something that’s long overdue. We have made big steps and achieved a lot in the last few years. But we are still missing something like a Four Hills Tournament, where all eyes are really on ski jumping, which is the highlight for men every winter.
I hope it really comes next year. I always say that I can’t hear myself complaining anymore.
Schmid: “It’s important that people hear us”
Sports show: By being loud, you have also created public pressure. Was that important for things to move?
Smith: I do believe that it is important that people hear us and that we are committed to this. I don’t know if it’s always well received by everyone, but I try to work for it. If you’re at the forefront, you’re more likely to be heard. And then I take advantage of it.
Sports show: Were there moments when you doubted whether you wanted to continue on this path or whether you wanted to be loud in public?
Smith: We have had the feeling from time to time that we are not being heard, nor do we want to be heard. That we can make ourselves strong, but it doesn’t help at all.
Sports show: Do you sometimes look at other sports and their efforts to achieve equality? Biathlon, for example, or alpine skiing?
Smith: Yes, of course you compare it with other sports. Especially in Germany with biathlon. The women are and have been so successful in the past and have equal rights. They have the competitions, they have the audience. In biathlon, I found that in recent years the women have been seen more than the men. And I do believe that this is a goal for women’s ski jumping – that we can and want to get there.
Schmid about the FIS: “This is the bigger construction site”
Sports show: Do you have the feeling that you, as athletes, can play an active role? That you are heard by the association?
Smith: I believe that we are actually being heard and seen in our association. We are also allowed to express our opinions. I don’t know if it always ends up where we would like it to. But I do have the feeling that the association is doing more for us. Especially now when it comes to the Two Nights Tour. I think we are already quite well positioned in Germany.
Sports show: What about the international association?
Smith: I think that’s the bigger construction site. Difficult. I know of our athlete spokesperson – now a former athlete spokesperson – Eva Pinkelnig, who said she sat in on the meetings. She was allowed to say something, but no one wanted to listen. She was interrupted, words were twisted.
She often left the meetings and wanted to stand up for us ladies, but then she said: Okay, I don’t think anyone was interested in what we wanted. She said she prepared everything, but she could never say everything. And I find that hard. That’s awesome.
Schmid: “I was close in Lillehammer”
Sports show: Let’s look at the sporting situation. The two-night tour is just around the corner. Which jumper do you think will be at the top?
Smith: I think there are many who have the opportunity to be at the forefront this year. Nika Prevc and Nozomi Maruyama are of course difficult to beat at the moment. But I think it’s not impossible. Last weekend we saw Seli (Selina Freitag, editor’s note) from our own ranks, who also scratched the podium. I was pretty close in Lillehammer. Anything can happen in a competition like this.
Sports show: Who do you think is the men’s tour favorite?
Smith: Domen Prevc is jumping extremely strong at the moment, but I don’t think he’s unbeatable either. The Germans also have a lot in them, especially with Hille (Philipp Raimund, editor’s note), who is on such a roll and is constantly jumping onto the podium. Of course it would be cool to celebrate your first World Cup victory on the tour in Hille. But anything is possible for Felix Hoffmann too.
The entire interview with Katharina Schmid is available in the complete podcast episode. Among other things, Schmid talks about her group of friends, the “Flamingo Girls”, media coverage in ski jumping and the pressure that lies on less-form athletes like Andreas Wellinger or Karl Geiger.