His “heart was bleeding”
The discarded DSV eagle is back on tour
December 30, 2024 – 4:08 p.mReading time: 1 Min.
For years, Markus Eisenbichler was indispensable in the German ski jumping squad. But his current form had consequences for the start of the tour. Now he’s back.
Markus Eisenbichler is celebrating his comeback at the Four Hills Ski Jumping Tournament after almost two years. The 33-year-old Bavarian is part of the German squad for the New Year’s competition (from 2 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Unlike in Oberstdorf, national coach Stefan Horngacher nominates the so-called national group for the second competition, which enables him to use additional athletes.
“My heart is bleeding,” Eisenbichler told Bayerischer Rundfunk about being left out of the Oberstdorf tour line-up. At the Great Olympic Ski Jump he now has the chance to recommend himself for the further stages in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen. His opponents Philipp Raimund and Stephan Leyhe did not justify the trust placed in them in Oberstdorf. Raimund took 40th place, Leyhe didn’t get past 48th place.
A possibly good omen for Eisenbichler: Between 2017 and 2022, he made it into the top ten jumpers five times in six New Year’s competitions, and he even came second twice.