ÖSV Coach Sees Generational Change in Nordic Combined

Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) head coach Christoph Bieler has signaled that a generational change is underway in the nation’s Nordic combined team. Superstar Jarl Magnus Riiber, who has been a key figure on the international stage, is expected to step back at the age of 27, and Bieler anticipates that other experienced athletes – such as the 30-year-old Martin Fritz, 31-year-old Franz-Josef Rehrl, and Lukas Greiderer – will soon be succeeded by younger competitors.

Bieler noted that the excellent work in the youth centers is paying off. The recent performances of emerging talents were impressive: 24-year-old Fabio Obermeyr, who posted the second fastest time in his race and finished in the top ten, as well as the promising 19-year-old Paul Walcher and 18-year-old Andreas Gfrerer, who made a strong World Cup debut by finishing 29th, indicate that the team has a robust pipeline of new stars.

While the current cadre of veteran athletes remains crucial for major championships, Bieler stressed the importance of a compact team of young, talented athletes that can secure future success. With events such as the Junior World Championships in Lake Placid on the horizon – where medallists will earn fixed World Cup places for the 2025/26 season – the restructuring of the team is viewed as essential. Additionally, on the women’s side, the 16-year-old Katharina Gruber of Upper Austria has already made an impact by achieving her first top-15 finish, suggesting a similar future for the ÖSV female team.

Coach Bieler’s remarks underscore the inevitable evolution in competitive sport, where new talent must rise to meet international challenges as the current stars prepare for the next phase in their careers.