The Aftermath of the Ski Jumping Scandal: Alexander Stöckl Reflects on His Experience

The Aftermath of the Ski Jumping Scandal

Last winter, Alexander Stöckl found himself caught in the storm of a significant scandal that led to his dismissal as Norway's ski jumping coach. The fallout from this tumultuous event has left a lasting mark on him, both mentally and physically.

The controversy that engulfed Norwegian winter sports stemmed from a scathing letter written by ski jumpers, which criticized Stöckl's leadership approach. This letter, addressed to the national federation, ultimately resulted in the termination of the 50-year-old coach, as the divisions within the team became irreparable.

As the winter season approaches again, Stöckl has taken a moment to reflect on the difficulties he faced. He told state broadcaster NRK, "It was exhausting, but we reached an agreement that we are both satisfied with," adding, "Being in such a situation was, of course, very uncomfortable."

The immense pressure affected him significantly: "I lost a lot of weight. I weighed almost as little as the ski jumpers," he revealed. Additionally, he experienced sleepless nights, describing the situation as "not very pleasant."

In retrospect, Stöckl admits to some self-reflection: "I developed in a direction that might not have been optimal for everyone. Or I did things I considered important that others thought were beyond my responsibilities." Yet, he stands by his actions, asserting, "What I did, I did with the best intentions. I tried to ensure that we could be successful."

Moving forward, Stöckl has embraced a new opportunity as the sports director for ski jumping and Nordic combined in Poland. Only time will tell if this role will bring him the peace he seeks.