After the Olympic season there was another retirement in ski jumping.
“I’ve been waiting for the right time to do this, but it seems like the thought of writing about it made it so real that maybe that’s why I avoided it. When you’ve invested 15 years in something, it’s incredibly hard to let go – but I’ve known for some time that this season was the end of my professional sports career,” Canadian ski jumper Natalie Eilers announced on Instagram.
The North American revealed that the past year was “one of the most difficult (and most rewarding) years” of her life so far.
When she was little, she always imagined winning trophies and medals in ski jumping, says Eilers. “As I grew older and struggled with injuries, I maintained these visions and – no matter how serious – continued to push forward to achieve these goals,” revealed the 27-year-old.
“What I’ve learned in the last few years is that success can sometimes look different than we imagined and that that’s okay. It used to be medals, then it was just about getting back on the hill,” explained Eilers.
Ski jumper defies serious knee injury
The ski jumper from Calgary suffered a serious knee injury in January 2024.
“I had big dreams for myself, but I don’t think any of it would have been possible without her – even if it’s not exactly what my 13-year-old self imagined. In a way, I’m even prouder,” Eilers said.
The Canadian thanked her family and her long-time companions. “Thank you, ski jumping, I miss you already,” she concluded her statement.
