Polish Jumper Opens Up: It Was a Blow, Now He Returns to the World Cup

The last season was a painful lesson for Jakub Wolny. Not only due to poor performances but also because of his struggles when he openly expressed his thoughts about former B team coach David Jiroutek. "In hindsight, I regret saying something like that," he admits. Another blow came in the spring when he was not included in the national teams. "I was a bit devastated, but I told myself it can't be like this, and above all, I want to show myself that I am still able to jump at a good level," he explains. After a break of more than a year and a half, he is now returning to the World Cup.

Wolny's last season was marked by challenges that included a lack of communication with his coaches. He candidly critiqued Jiroutek's training methods, stating, "We constantly receive the same feedback. Jumps are better when I do them my way, but when the coach gives advice, it turns worse. It's all supposed to be fine if I’m balanced on the approach," he said in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

After expressing these frustrations, he faced suspension, but fortunately, it was brief. Two weeks later, he returned to competition in the Continental Cup. In Lillehammer, he reached the podium, signaling the beginning of his road to recovery.

This path became more complicated in the spring when he was not placed in the main squad but in the base group. "I expected it to some extent, but it was still a blow. When it was announced, I was a bit down, but I decided that it can't be like this," he admitted, emphasizing his determination to jump well again.

Under the supervision of Krzysztof Miętus during training, he managed to develop a focused training plan that kept distractions at bay. As a result, he trained with Thomas Thurnbichler's team ahead of the Summer Grand Prix in Courchevel. "We were training to put me in this group, and it's great that I succeeded already at that time," he added.

Now, after a year and a half off, he is set to return to the World Cup in the forthcoming competitions in Ruka, replacing Maciej Kot. Although he has not competed this season yet, he feels optimistic about his form on the Finnish hill, which has historically suited him well, particularly on larger jumps. His goal is to achieve regular points in the World Cup, and he hopes to hit a remarkable distance of 230 meters in Planica at the end of the season, showcasing his ambitions and capabilities once again.