Martin Schmitt appeals to Poles over Kacper Tomasiak: "Don't do this"

Martin Schmitt appeals to Poles over Kacper Tomasiak: "Don't do this"

Martin Schmitt, speaking from Garmisch‑Partenkirchen, praised Poland's young ski jumping leader Kacper Tomasiak for his rapid progress and results, but appealed to Polish fans and media not to create excessive pressure on the 18‑year‑old. Schmitt said he had followed Tomasiak for years (citing his strong junior results, including at Whistler) and was happy to see him take a big step forward; however, he warned that the next seasons will be crucial and that expectations should be kept realistic so Tomasiak can develop steadily.

Schmitt also discussed the current Four Hills Tournament action, praising Domen Prevc's dominant form and calling Jan Hörl Prevc’s closest rival so far. He noted surprise at Ryoyu Kobayashi not being stronger and commented that German veterans have had mixed starts — Felix Hoffmann and Philipp Raimund have shown encouraging results while big names like Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger are struggling, possibly related to equipment and technical adjustments.

On equipment controls and recent controversies, Schmitt criticized what he called risky decisions around suits, specifically referencing Timi Zajc's disqualification and suggesting teams sometimes knowingly push boundaries to pass checks. He said this year the controls are stricter and more effective, so such gambles can backfire.

Schmitt also speculated about coaching changes (mentioning potential candidates to replace Stefan Horngacher) and underlined that many nations have strong coaching options.

The piece is a Garmisch‑Partenkirchen correspondence by Natalia Żaczek and includes photos of Martin Schmitt and Kacper Tomasiak.