Unbelievable: What the Most Sensational World Ski Jumping Champion Is Up To

Twenty years ago at the World Championships in Oberstdorf, one of the most sensational moments in modern ski jumping unfolded. During the competitions, established favorites like Adam Małysz were expected to dominate, yet it was the 19‐year‐old Rok Benković who stunned everyone by winning a world title. In his post-competition interview, Małysz expressed deep disappointment with the difficult conditions on the hill, blaming gusty winds for his subpar performance.

Benković’s career began relatively late – at the age of 11 – but he quickly rose through the junior ranks, claiming top positions at world junior events and gradually making his mark on the World Cup circuit. In the 2004/2005 winter season, although his results were inconsistent with several competitions ending with no points or failing to even qualify, he performed strongly in the run-up to the championships with an eighth-place finish in Pragelato.

Despite initial doubts from fellow Slovenians – where athletes like Jernej Damjan were seen as more promising – Benković seized his moment. In a dramatic contest heavily influenced by shifting wind conditions, he set a new hill record with a jump of 101 meters. Although even established stars only managed distances in the low nineties, the conditions enabled the young jumper to overcome expectations and secure his surprise victory. His performance, which earned him a place on the medal stand (and fueled a national sensation), was a high point in an otherwise turbulent season.

However, the euphoria was short-lived. Just over two years later, Rok Benković unexpectedly announced his retirement from ski jumping. His subsequent life saw him channel his adrenaline into entirely different arenas – from rock climbing to the strategic worlds of poker and cryptocurrency trading. Reflecting on his post-skiing career, Benković noted that the psychological challenges of both poker and crypto paralleled the mental toughness required on the ski jump, a skill he had honed during his sporting years.

The article not only recounts the dramatic twists of that world championship day but also captures the ensuing crisis within the Slovenian team, where disappointing results nearly cost the head coach his job during the Four Hills Tournament. While reactions were mixed – with noted frustration from figures like Heinz Kuttin and bitter disappointment from Małysz – the story of Benković remains a memorable chapter in the history of international ski jumping.

Ultimately, despite his early retirement and the subsequent downturn in his competitive results, the legacy of Rok Benković’s sensational world title win continues to fascinate and serve as a remarkable example of how conditions, timing, and mental fortitude can come together for an unforgettable sporting achievement.