A Jubilar Who Became a German Legend

A Jubilar Who Became a German Legend

The German ski jumping icon Sven Hannawald is celebrating his 50th birthday. In 2002, he became the first jumper to win all four competitions in the Four Hills Tournament. However, his success also had its downsides.

Sven Hannawald was only 25 when he made history in German ski jumping. As the first jumper to win all the competitions of the Four Hills Tournament in a single winter, he is still remembered as a key figure. On Saturday, the beloved "Hanni" will celebrate his milestone birthday and is eagerly wishing for a successor as a tour champion.

"I want to finally pass on my backpack and have a successor," said Hannawald, who triumphed in the winters of 2001/02 when ski jumping hype reached its peak in Germany.

The tournament was broadcasted by RTL, hosted by Günther Jauch, and over ten million viewers tuned in, as Hannawald and his rival Martin Schmitt became absolute pop stars.

Sven Hannawald: A Glorious Career

The introverted Schwarzwald native struggled with fame. "It was too much for me. I didn't care if I achieved that annoying fourth victory. The main thing was that this whole theater was over," Hannawald once said in an interview. He sacrificed a lot for his youthful dream, which ultimately cost him dearly, leading to a burnout.

He remains one of the most successful German ski jumpers to this day. Shortly after his tournament triumph, he became an Olympic champion with the German team in Salt Lake City 2002, also winning individual silver. He was a two-time team world champion and a two-time ski flying world champion.

Hannawald's Battle with Mental Health Issues

Hannawald couldn't recapture his dream season of 2001/02 and retired in 2005 due to mental issues. Afterward, he attempted a career in motorsport and gave seminars.

"I have a partnership with AOK Bayern, where I regularly talk about my experiences with burnout. There are up to 20 appointments from April to October in AOK offices or businesses. The topic is more relevant than ever, as burnout cases are on the rise," he shared with Sport Bild.

"When the stress and pressure become too much and you're only being controlled from the outside, it eventually takes its toll. Phrases like 'it will pass' and 'only the tough make it' are complete nonsense," he continued.

Ski Jumping Icon Through and Through

Now, the jubilar can also enjoy his free time. Hannawald takes precautions to stay healthy, with his family being an important foundation.

"I make time to breathe. This way, I can also withstand phases where things get stressful. Back then, I couldn’t even manage to be an elite athlete and have a girlfriend at the same time. I constantly only thought about my sport," the ski jumping legend made clear.

Hannawald is impressed by his former rival Noriaki Kasai, who still loves ski jumping at 52, but for him, that's unimaginable.

"Ski jumping is a sport of trust. I no longer have that trust, so I prefer not to attempt it," he admitted to Sport Bild when asked if he'd trust himself to try it again.

He has remained connected to ski jumping, now as an ARD expert. This winter, he will also accompany the search for his successor as he enters his fifties.