Ski jumping: a mixed summer for Simon Ammann
At the age of 43, Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann, quadruple Olympic champion in 2002 and 2010, continues to practice his sport at the highest level. Studying at theUniversity of St. Gallen (Switzerland) while training and competing, he had a difficult international summer, with a meagre 20th place as his best result in nine competitions.
Above all, because of some poor training jumps, he had to take part in a FIS Cup weekend in Hinterzarten (Germany), the third highest level in the world. Even so, Simon Ammann, who switched from Fischer to Slatner skis during the off-season, was still fourth in the Swiss Championships a few weeks ago, but he is reassured. “I’m happy with the way my performance has improved,” he explained in the columns of Blick.
To qualify for the World Cup next winter – which would be his twenty-eighth (!) season on the circuit – Simon Ammann will have to do better than his young compatriots. Among them is Felix Trunz, 18 and fifth in the Grand Prix of Rasnov (Romania) in September. Gregor Deschwanden, Killian Peier, Juri Kesseli and Remo Imhof are also in the running.
“If a young athlete jumps as well as Simon [Ammann], the choice will be made in favour of the next generation,” warns Martin Künzle, coach of the Swiss national ski jumping team. Even if there are likely to be a number of changes over the winter, the Thurgau native has been warned: despite his immense record of success, his place in the World Cup is no longer guaranteed.
