28 seasons for the veteran
28 seasons for the veteran
Simon Ammann brings the Toggenburg ski jumper into the “last step” – or not yet?
The 43-year-old begins his 28th World Cup season in Lillehammer this weekend. The Toggenburger doesn’t know if it will be his last. Anyway, after a difficult spring, he feels revived and wants to “deal with the top ten”. He talks about boys who pushed him, “nervous skis” and new plans when the HSG bachelor degree is finally over.
Simon Ammann last winter in Innsbruck – and Simon Ammann in 1998 when he was 16 years old in St. Moritz.
At some point it will come, the crucial question that has already been asked a hundred times. Simon Ammann presses his lips together briefly, looks into the distance, then smiles, adjusts his glasses and gives a not entirely clear answer. He can’t say “for sure” whether it will be his last season, he says. But he is definitely in the “last phase” of his career.
This statement is not surprising: it goes without saying that a 43-year-old athlete is at the end of his professional career. Maybe the 2026 Olympics will still be something? After all, experts have been wrong to speculate about his retirement for ten years. For the first time in 2014 after the Olympic Games in Sochi.
Ammann is standing at check-in at the airport in Kloten when he gives his vague answer. He is on his way to Lillehammer, where he will start his 28th World Cup season next weekend, and not thanks to his legendary status as a double Olympic champion, but because he regularly fought on one of the four a World Cup place within the team in the summer.
Here in a team with Gregor Deschwanden and Kilian Peier, who are expected to achieve regular top ten results. And with Felix Trunz, 18 years old, who is also flying to Lillehammer. Or with other boys like Juri Kesseli or Remo Imhof, who slowly got Ammann, who is up to 25 years older than him, into trouble.
He welcomes the fact that young people are pushing, says Ammann. “We have to work together as a team, even if there are internal duels.” And: “I’m happy to move into the second team.” Unless he can’t keep up anymore. At the end of last winter, the coaching staff around Rune Velta and Martin Künzle gave youngsters the chance to compete in the World Cup, although Ammann saw himself in the top four.
“I am in favor of clear selection criteria; last season I wasn’t always completely happy,” says Ammann. His plea for himself is: Young people may also be “burnt out” when the World Cup starts soon. And he can score points with his routine in situations that young people still can’t.
Ammann has discussed the matter for a long time with the coaching staff, he says. Martin Künzle, coach of the World Cup team, also addresses the situation. The Toggenburg resident and Am
The start of winter in Lillehammer, Ruka and Wisla is extremely important for Ammann to secure its place in the World Cup in the long term – and to recommend itself for the World Cup in Trondheim at the end of February. “Hopefully my foundation is better than it was a year ago,” says Ammann.
With the jumps at the Summer GP and fourth place at the Swiss Championships in August in Einsiedeln, he created a good starting position. He aims to reach the top 20 more regularly, something he only did once last winter. And what’s more: he wants to “deal with the top ten”.
He would go after being ranked 52nd overall last season, which was his worst since his debut in 1998. Ammann is confident that he has brought more peace between his body and his Skis again, also thanks to Fischer’s move back to Slatnar. He was already working with the Slovenian company for a while in 2018.
It was only two weeks ago that he found the ski he wanted – the model was ”more open” and “less nervous”. It is now a matter of “restoration”, ie. to bring out the “unconscious tension” and patterns that one finds when jumping to material that was not perfectly coordinated before.
Simon Ammann last winter when he was traveling with Fischer skis. He is now working with Slatnar again.
Ammann is still fun to listen to, even if you can only vaguely follow many of his comments as a non-ski jumper. In any case, Künzle also confirms that Ammann is again showing more stable jumpers. Above all, it highlights Ammann’s indomitable inventiveness and mechanism, from which young people could also learn a lot. The mix is good. “The old benefit from the young and vice versa.” There was a good dynamic, especially in the weight room, thanks to a lot of competitive young people.
At least here, Ammann runs his own course and can’t keep up with 18-year-olds. In any case, it focuses more and more consciously. “I put some things aside.” In the spring everything was a little too much. He has now resigned as board member of Toggenburg Bergbahnen. The HSG economics course is continuing, however, and there will be some exams in January. Ammann plans to complete his bachelor’s degree over the summer. Will a new era in his life begin then?
There are projects that are not ready to be decided. Perhaps the 2025/2026 Olympic season will also be part of it.
What has Simon Ammann said about his future in ski jumping as he approaches retirement?
Simon Ammann Reflects on His Career as He Approaches Potential Retirement
Simon Ammann, the celebrated Swiss ski jumper, finds himself in the twilight of his career at the age of 43. As he prepares for what may be his last season, he expresses uncertainty about his immediate future in the sport. In a recent interview, Ammann stated, “I can’t say ‘for sure’ whether it will be my last season,” but acknowledged that he is in the “last phase” of his career. This sentiment, though not surprising given his age, highlights the ongoing speculation around his retirement, which has been present since the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.
Ammann is currently on his way to Lillehammer for the start of his 28th World Cup season. Despite his legendary status as a double Olympic champion, he finds himself facing competition from younger teammates. As he shares insights, he emphasizes the importance of teamwork, despite the internal competition from younger athletes who are pushing to secure their places in the team. He welcomes the challenge and asserts that experience can be an asset in competitive situations.
He stressed the significance of clear selection criteria in the team and pointed out that while young jumpers may face burnout, his experience allows him to handle the pressure more effectively. Ammann is focused on improving his performance after a disappointing season last year, where he ranked 52nd his worst finish since his debut.
In preparation for the upcoming competitions, Ammann is optimistic about his recent efforts, aiming to perform more consistently and improve his standings. Having secured a good starting position during the summer competitions, he seeks to reclaim his place among the top 20 jumpers, with aspirations to break into the top ten.
Ammann has recently returned to working with Slatnar skis, a shift from his previous partnership with Fischer. He believes that this change has the potential to restore his connection with the equipment and enhance his performance as he tackles the upcoming winter season.
As he moves forward, Ammann remains committed to making the most of his experience while navigating the competitive landscape of ski jumping, exemplifying both resilience and determination.