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Former world champion ski jumper from Germany Markus Eisenbichler is moving to Austria to join Nordic combined.
Munich. For years he has been the face of German ski jumping, celebrating triumphs on the world’s biggest hills, and now Markus Eisenbichler is delivering a report that is causing a stir in the winter sports arena. The 35-year-old Bavarian is joining the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) and will strengthen the combined ski support team in the future. The ÖSV has officially confirmed this.
Markus Eisenbichler. © Imago
Eisenbichler, who will retire from his active ski jumping career in 2025, is not giving up competition entirely. Instead, he is changing the role of athlete to that of expert and service specialist – and above all, to his main rival from Austria.
From now on, Eisenbichler works for Austria.
“My service tasks will be broad. Material and coordination are a very important part of achieving success in the end. Even when I was an athlete, my hobbies were in the areas of flight and material, and I am very pleased that I can now continue to work in this area and support athletes in the best possible way,” says Eisenbichler.
The fact that the Siegsdorf native is more than up to the task is demonstrated by his impressive career record. As a ski jumper, Eisenbichler won a total of six World Cup gold medals – one as an individual at his home world championships in Seefeld in 2019, and the other five with Team Germany. In addition, there is an Olympic bronze with the German team at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
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This makes him one of the most successful German ski jumpers in history. He will now bring this wealth of experience to his new role, in which he will work closely with Austrian combined athletes such as last season’s overall World Cup winner Johannes Lamparter and Lisa Hirner.
Accordingly, the ÖSV is enthusiastic about the unusual transfer. “He has achieved great success as an athlete and has enormous know-how in the field of materials. We are all the more pleased that he is taking on this new challenge and will bring his valuable experience to us in the future,” says sporting director Florian Liegl. ÖSV head coach Christoph Bieler also agrees: “No one can deceive him. He is a true asset to our team and will be able to make important contributions, especially on the mound,” Beeler said. (smr)