Ski Jumping
Incredible: 53‑year‑old Noriaki Kasai finishes 4th at Japanese Nationals, targets Milan Olympics
November 03, 2025 / Przegląd Sportowy Onet
Noriaki Kasai placed a remarkable fourth at the Japanese National Championships in Sapporo with jumps of 124 m and 129 m, earning a spot on Japan’s Continental Cup team. The 53‑year‑old says this is a first step toward competing at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, though he acknowledges back and other aches could complicate his plans. The national title was won by Ren Nikaido ahead of Sakutaro Kobayashi and Tomofumi Naito; Ryoyu Kobayashi did not compete.
Ski jumper Thea Minyan Bjørseth (22) was a World Championship favorite — ended up in a trauma center
November 02, 2025 / NRK
Norwegian ski jumper Thea Minyan Bjørseth recounts the devastating crash in Ljubno on 15 February, days before the Trondheim 2025 World Championships, that left her with a rare multi‑ligament knee injury and a dislocated elbow. Doctors say the knee damage resembled trauma typically seen in high‑energy accidents, leading to urgent surgery at Oslo University Hospital’s trauma center and a second operation in June for scar tissue. Bjørseth faces a long physical and mental recovery, will miss the 2026 Olympics, and now targets a first jump next summer with an eye on the 2027 World Championships in Falun.
Suit scandal: Norwegian ski jumping stars push back against accusations
November 02, 2025 / SPORT1
Norway’s Marius Lindvik and Johann-André Forfang, suspended for three months over suit manipulation at the last World Championships, reject rivals’ claims that they knowingly competed in altered suits. Lindvik told Dagbladet that some of the loudest critics should “be clean themselves first,” referencing TV2 reports suggesting suspicion also fell on athletes from other nations. Having already served part of the ban last season, both are eligible to compete again from November, with Lindvik saying he enters the season with his head held high.
Poles blast Karl Geiger’s comments on “eliminating cheating” in ski jumping
November 02, 2025 / Przegląd Sportowy Onet
German ski jumper Karl Geiger called for tighter controls to eliminate cheating after the Trondheim World Championships controversy involving Norway. Polish media and fans reacted sharply, calling Geiger a hypocrite due to the earlier scandal over his oversized suit at the World Championships, which reporting suggested had not been properly inspected despite his claims. TVP Sport’s Michał Chmielewski labelled Geiger’s stance “the flip of the year,” with many urging him to address his own equipment issues first.
Alarm 97 days before the Olympics: Concerns about Noriaki Kasai's form and health
November 01, 2025 / Przegląd Sportowy Onet
Japan’s 53-year-old ski jumping legend Noriaki Kasai admits he is struggling with pain and poor form as he tries to qualify for his ninth Olympics. Kasai is not currently on Japan’s World Cup team and says he can only compete in lower-tier events, making Olympic selection extremely difficult. Despite winning some national and minor international events recently, he acknowledges he is far from peak condition and fighting age-related aches.
He could replace Stefan Horngacher as Germany’s head coach
November 01, 2025 / Przegląd Sportowy Onet
Stefan Horngacher announced in Nuremberg that he will step down as Germany’s ski jumping head coach after the 2025/26 Olympic season. German media highlight Thomas Thurnbichler—recently hired by the DSV to lead the B-team after leaving Poland—as the leading candidate, with former Switzerland coach Ronny Hornschuh also mentioned. The piece notes Horngacher’s past path from Poland to Germany and compares achievements under his tenure.
Ski jumping – Germany head coach Stefan Horngacher to step down after the 2026 Olympics
October 29, 2025 / Sportschau
Germany’s ski jumping head coach Stefan Horngacher will leave his post after the 2025–26 Olympic season, the German Ski Association (DSV) confirmed. Horngacher, in charge since 2019, cited clarity for the athletes as a reason to announce early; highlights of his tenure include team gold at the 2021 Oberstdorf Worlds and Karl Geiger’s 2020 ski flying world title in Planica. DSV sport director Horst Hüttel said no successor is set yet, with internal options including Thomas Thurnbichler and Ronny Hornschuh under consideration.
“Circle closes” – Germany’s head ski jumping coach announces retirement
October 29, 2025 / Krone.at
Austria’s Stefan Horngacher will step down as Germany’s national ski jumping head coach after the upcoming Olympic season, he revealed during the German Ski Association’s team outfitting event in Nuremberg. Horngacher, who has led the DSV since April 2019, said “the circle closes,” recalling his first major title as an athlete with team gold in Predazzo in 1991. DSV sports director Horst Hüttel was surprised by the timing and said the federation will now seek a long‑term successor.
Stefan Horngacher to step down; shock in German ski jumping
October 29, 2025 / Przegląd Sportowy Onet
Germany’s head ski jumping coach Stefan Horngacher announced at a press conference that he will leave his post after the upcoming Olympic season. He framed the decision as a “full circle” moment linked to his early World Cup years and did not rule out a future return to coaching. Under Horngacher, Germany won the Nations Cup, team World Championship gold and an Olympic bronze, but still awaits a long‑coveted Turn of the Four Hills overall victory.
Sudden rule change in women’s ski jumping suits takes effect immediately
October 27, 2025 / Przegląd Sportowy Onet
Four months before the Winter Olympics, FIS has introduced immediate changes to women’s ski‑jumping suit regulations to improve safety after a spate of serious crashes in Predazzo. The larger suits will debut this weekend at the Summer Grand Prix finals in Klingenthal, alongside infrastructure tweaks including a planned adjustment to the Predazzo K98 take‑off angle. Athletes and coaches react cautiously: Eva Pinkelnig criticizes the delay in addressing known risks, while FIS expert Jernej Damjan and Poland women’s coach Stefan Hula outline expected, mostly marginal, performance effects.