"Can no longer reach my goals" - ski jumping world champion Freitag ends his career immediately

Created: 2022-03-20 13:01

By: Florian Schimak

Richard Freitag has ended his career as a ski jumper.

© IMAGO / Jan Huebner

Now that really comes as a surprise!

Richard Freitag officially announced the end of his career on Saturday with immediate effect. 

Munich/Oberstdorf - Off!

End!

Past!

Richard Freitag puts his skis in the corner!

The two-time ski jumping world champion ends his career with immediate effect.

The 30-year-old Saxon announced this on Saturday as part of the Ski Flying World Cup in Oberstdorf, where he was no longer in action.

With eight victories in the World Cup, the team Olympic silver medalist from Pyeongchang is the seventh best German jumper in history.

• Name

  : Richard Friday

• Birthday:

  August 14, 1991 (30 years old)

• Place of birth:

  Erlabrunn

• Height:

  1.73 meters

• Achievements:

  Silver medal at the 2018 Olympics, 2x world champion (2015 mixed and 2019 team)

"In the past few weeks it has become clear to me that I can no longer achieve my personal goals, despite my great commitment," said sports soldier Freitag in his former adopted home in the Allgäu: "I had a really nice time and was able to gain a lot of valuable experience, but it it's time to stop and move on to something new."

Ski jumping: Richard Freitag ends his career with immediate effect!

"Can't reach my goals anymore"

Recently, Freitag lost touch, again missed out on a place in the World Cup team and at times only competed in the third-rate FIS Cup.

At the Four Hills Tournament, the noble technician, who had long attracted attention with his distinctive mustache, did not even make it to a start over the extended squad of the "national group".

In January he made his last two appearances in the World Cup with the B squad in Titisee-Neustadt and showed improving form with 21st place each time.

"I had a really good time and was able to gain a lot of valuable experience, but it's time to stop and devote myself to new tasks."

Richard Freitag, two-time ski jumping world champion, at the end of his career

Freitag, who in 2015 in Innsbruck had ensured the first German day victory in a Four Hills Tournament in 13 years, had his best season in the 2017/18 Olympic winter, when he temporarily led the overall World Cup.

The sticking point in his career was the tour of that season, for which he had started as a favorite, but had a bad fall in Innsbruck and had to drop out.

After that, he still won team silver in Pyeongchang and became team world champion in 2019, but he never found his old strength again.

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He left open what plans Friday will now pursue.

"I'm currently examining various options - I haven't made a specific decision yet," he said: "In any case, I will remain connected to the sport in my heart one way or another.

Ski jumping was my great passion and I always considered it a privilege to be able to practice this sport."