Markus Eisenbichler Considered Retirement After Poor Season

German Ski Star Contemplated Retirement

Former ski jumping world champion Markus Eisenbichler did not participate in any World Cup events last winter and missed the prestigious Four Hills Tournament for the first time since 2012. After this challenging season, he contemplated his career.

Markus Eisenbichler reflected on his difficult past season, saying, "Of course, you think about it and say: I don't want to do this anymore, I don't have to put myself through this." His comments came during an official event in Nuremberg, highlighting the psychological pressures athletes face when performances falter.

The six-time world champion has faced multiple challenges, including personal issues, a painful knee, and a lack of form. At times, he struggled even in the second-tier Continental Cup, drawing much criticism. He voiced his frustration, saying, "Honestly, I'm not doing this for you guys, but for myself because I enjoy it. Please, just leave me alone for a while."

Despite the setbacks, Eisenbichler has found renewed enthusiasm for ski jumping. "What happened last year is in the past. You can learn a lot from it. I have become calmer, more relaxed, and I’m not as quick to get upset anymore," he stated.

New Scoring Rules Frustrate Eisenbichler

However, he is frustrated with a new scoring rule that emphasizes landings further now, where judges will deduct points if athletes do not show a telemark landing, potentially impacting their scores negatively. Eisenbichler feels this penalizes athletes for achieving long jumps, stating, "I find it completely ridiculous, to be honest, what the FIS has come up with again. I might not be able to stay quiet about this forever if my patience runs out."

He expressed concerns that this could result in a situation where the best jumper might not win: "Now, it could happen that you're the best but not on the podium. That's simply not fair," he lamented.

As for whether Eisenbichler will be part of the German team for the World Cup starting on November 23 in Lillehammer, coach Stefan Horngacher stated, "If he shows good performances in training, he could make it. If not, I assume he will be on the list at the latest for the Four Hills Tournament starting December 29 in Oberstdorf."

With contributions from the Sports Information Service (SID)