Legend Calls for Revolution in Ski Jumping

Simon Ammann, at 43 years old, shows no signs of retiring and is gearing up for another season in the World Cup ski jumping circuit. He has criticized the crowded calendar, citing that it increases the risk of injury among competitors. The decorated athlete comes with a ready plan for revolution.

In an interview with Swiss-Ski, Ammann expressed that the current World Cup program is on the brink, with the travel burdens being enormous. He pointed out that during the recent World Cup finals in Planica, several injuries occurred, which were likely exacerbated by fatigue from a packed schedule.

Ammann suggests a revolutionary change in ski jumping: the introduction of a year-round ranking within the World Cup. "The winter is exceptionally tense, but we need to break the calendar down into parts and make it span the entire year," he states. This would include events held during the summer as part of the World Cup. "It would give athletes more breathing room."

Only time will tell if this will be met with approval from FIS officials. Ammann admits that he is in the "final stage" of his career and primarily thinks about the future of the sport.