Four-time Olympic ski jumping champion Simon Ammann has taken an important step on the way to his eighth participation in the Olympic Games. The 44-year-old Swiss is in the squad for the first three World Cup competitions.
Before the nomination, the Swiss coach Martin Künzle had only guaranteed Gregor Deschwanden a permanent place, Ammann had to assert himself against the much younger competition in the training camp in Oberstdorf. Successfully. The double Olympic champion from 2002 and 2010 will be there at the start of the World Cup in Lillehammer (November 21st to 23rd).
In the World Cup, Ammann would like to qualify for the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February 2026. The ski jumping competitions take place in Val di Fiemme, more than 400 kilometers away.
The 53-year-old Japanese Kasai also continues to jump
Ammann is the second well-known ski jumping oldie who remains in the business: The now 53-year-old Japanese Noriaki Kasai announced a few days ago that he would start the new season in the second-class Continental Cup, where he would like to recommend himself for bigger tasks in the World Cup. The 1992 ski flying world champion came fourth at the Japanese championships and was therefore nominated for the Japanese Continental Cup selection.
Kasai won the silver medal at the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 at the age of 41 – and continues to dream of his ninth Olympic participation.