Katharina Schmid - with a new mindset into the history books

Originally published in sportschau.de on December 16, 2024

Ski jumping: Katharina Schmid - with a new mindset into the history books

As stable as this winter, Katharina Schmid has never been before. What are the reasons for the strong start of the ski jumping World Cup leader? The new national coach and a new mindset seem to play a significant role.

This dominance in ski jumping has not been seen for a long time: It was precisely seven years ago that the ski jumping World Cup was led simultaneously by a German male and a female jumper. Just before Christmas 2017, Richard Freitag and Katharina Althaus wore the yellow jersey. Althaus is now Schmid, but in this year, she embodies the German ski jumping revival. Just before Christmas 2024, Schmid shines as much as male jumper Pius Paschke, both in yellow.

Schmid: "It was really fun"

The new ski season for women is still young with five jumps. The 28-year-old Schmid has been on the podium in all jumps. She has already won four times, including both jumps at the Olympic Hill in Zhangjiakou, China. "It was really fun; I am really happy," the German revealed. "Ten days in China were very successful, but also cost energy."

Energy that Schmid has been able to carry to the jumps this season like never before. Schmid is experiencing the most stable time of her career; she has not had such a successful streak of four victories in five jumps since 2017/2018. She already leads the overall World Cup with 380 points, well ahead of last year's winner Nika Prevc from Slovenia with 229.

Kuttin: "A tremendous performance"

"Katharina Schmid has really produced tremendous performances; she is in form," praised the new national coach Heinz Kuttin the prowess of his elite athlete following the World Cup finals in Zhangjiakou on Sunday (15.12.2024) when many jumpers faced challenges due to increasingly difficult conditions. Not so for Schmid. "The jumps have become harder; these changing wind conditions don’t just pass by unnoticed. Nevertheless, she can still win competitions. That is extremely gratifying for our team."

20 months without a victory

Extremely gratifying is also the explosion in performance from the two-time Olympic silver medalist. At the season opener in Lillehammer, Schmid ended a long dry spell. For a full 20 months, the seven-time World Champion had not claimed a win.

Schmid about Kuttin: "He has a calm demeanor"

What are the reasons behind the Oberallgäuer’s surge? One reason appears to be capitalizing on the coaching changes within the women’s team. Since earlier this year, Austrian Heinz Kuttin has taken on the role of national coach for German women: "You can tell with Heinz that he brings a lot of experience to the team. He embodies calmness and radiates it. Everything is working out wonderfully," Schmid commented following the Summer Grand Prix finale in October in Klingenthal.

Schmid: "Where should the journey go?"

Additionally, the ten-time World Cup winner has made some personal adjustments: "I really put in intense effort over the summer, and it's paying off now," Schmid said. Unlike in previous years, she has really engaged in training: Both physical training and working on the "mindset" have been important: "I asked myself, where should the journey go? Then I aimed to find my jump and my rhythm."

Hannawald: "The jump works consistently"

And it seems like she has found it. This has also been commended by sports expert Sven Hannawald. Following three days in Lillehammer with altered conditions, the former Four Hills Tournament winner noted, "The jump works consistently. This is crucial for the entire season."

No Olympic Games this season

While there are no Olympic Games scheduled for this season, there is a World Championship in Trondheim as a peak event. Perhaps, with Schmid and Paschke, two German athletes will finish the World Cup as overall winners. That has never happened in the sport's history yet.