Simon Ammann is still not thinking about the end of his career in ski jumping. Martin Schmitt explains what makes the four-time Olympic champion special.
He jumps and jumps and jumps: Simon Ammann is part of winter sports. The Swiss has been competing in the ski jumping circus for more than two decades. Although the days when he fought for victories and medals are now over, the 42-year-old is still not thinking about quitting.
“I think that Simon is just having fun,” said German ski jumping icon Martin Schmitt in a media round that was also attended sport.de took part: “He simply has fun dealing with ski jumping. When there are changes to the material or rules, he deals with it and thinks of a solution.”
“There has now been a change of coach in the Swiss team. I think it was also motivation for him again. It was something new for him again, I think he is open-minded. He finds it exciting and then he just tries it again,” said Schmitt about his former rival in ski jumping.
“He simply enjoys ski jumping, wants to practice this sport and is therefore still involved,” repeated the “Eurosport” expert.
Ski jumping: Over 20 years have passed since the first Olympic gold medal
Ammann has won the overall World Cup once during his long career (2009/10). However, the Swiss could not triumph at the Four Hills Tournament. In the past, Ammann has particularly shone at the Winter Olympics. The Swiss legend won the gold medal on the normal and large hill in Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010.
It has now been over 20 years since his first Olympic coup in the USA. But ending his career is out of the question for Ammann – and so he jumps on and on.