When Sven Hannawald landed in Bischofshofen on January 6, 2002, he had achieved what was previously considered impossible. The German ski jumper won all four competitions in the Four Hills Tournament.
When Sven Hannawald got ready on the beam in Bischofshofen on January 6, 2002, a good 10 million people in Germany watched the jump that would make the man from the Erzgebirge immortal. Hannawald’s suit, which had the 50 emblazoned on it because he had skipped the qualification as he so often did, shone silver, but he was actually already assured of the golden eagle.
From “battered” to great triumphant
No one else had flown so dominantly through the Four Hills Tournament before him. Shortly before, there was hardly anything to indicate that Hannawald would succeed in the Grand Slam at the Four Hills Tournament for the first time on January 6th. The reputation of being a “bruised man” stuck with him stubbornly. Too often, great achievements were followed by deep valleys – and fate often had a hand in it.
So Hannawald came into the season, which was to be the best of his career, with a lot of ballast. The previous winter was disappointing. Hannawald dragged himself from competition to competition and finally came ninth in the overall World Cup. But this winter everything was going to be different.
Already at the opening competition of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf, Hannawald flew away from everyone. Matti Hautamäki, Andi Widhölzl, even the big favorite Adam Malysz – none of them came close to the then 28-year-old Hannawald. And he confirmed his performance at the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In both jumps he flew further than the other top athletes. 20 points ahead of the competition after the first two competitions.
Twice hill record – Hannawald cannot be beaten
They hoped that Hannawald would break in on the Bergisel ski jump. But instead of fluttering nerves, Hannawald’s next demonstration followed in Innsbruck. With his first jump of 134.5 meters he set a new hill record. He also jumped in his own league in the second one and was considered a sure winner even before the trip to Bischofshofen. The first German to win the tour since Jens Weißflog.
But Hannawald wanted more. He wanted to be the first ski jumper to win on all four Bakken. Hautamäki did his best to prevent that. Although Hannawald set a new hill record with his first jump of 139 meters, he had to tremble. Because the Finn showed a performance that would probably have been enough for victory on any other day.
“The myth of Four Hills Tournament is defeated”
But it was Sven Hannwald’s day and tour. When he touched the ground again just five seconds and 131.5 meters after his jump, it was clear: the result was close, but the winner was Hannawald. The man in the silver suit threw his fist up in celebration, then raised his finger in the air. “He’s done it, the myth of the Four Hills Tournament has been defeated”the former RTL and current ARD commentator Tom Bartels announced to the German viewers in their living rooms before the result was shown: 2.5 points separated Hannawald from Hautamäki in the end.
“That’s why I’m not a legend yet”said Hannawald after his historic triumph. He shouldn’t be right about that. Because at that moment he was immortalized in the history books as well as in the collective memory of ski jumping fans.