Polish ski jumpers have lost their “untouchable” status. The new reality

For years of success, Poland’s ski jumpers enjoyed an almost “untouchable” status. In a sport that captured Polish fans’ hearts around the turn of the century thanks to Adam Małysz, new stars emerged and delivered results that once seemed out of reach after the legend retired. Even when there were dips, corrections came quickly enough that trust was never seriously lost.

That dynamic has changed. After several winters without a real turnaround, fans—frustrated by weeks without results—are scrutinizing public statements from athletes and coaches and pushing back on messaging that they shouldn’t be criticized because they work hard. The author recalls that even in the difficult 2021/22 season, blame was often diverted (at times toward the federation president), and media flare‑ups were commonly excused.

The turning point cited is Planica 2025, where tensions split the camp and strong words were used. Aleksander Zniszczoł publicly criticized head coach Thomas Thurnbichler, saying the atmosphere and preparation were wrong and that, had the coach stayed, engagement in the team would have been “30 percent lower.” The piece argues that Zniszczoł has shown little reflection since, and notes how online reactions turned his moniker from “Emperor” to a mocking “Oleksandr Zniszczenko.” Dawid Kubacki also faced backlash last season for repeatedly invoking “conditions” in post‑event interviews, which wore down even patient supporters.

The author cautions that early December is not the time to sound the alarm—rocky starts have preceded recoveries in the past—but several seasons have now lacked a decisive upswing, naturally heightening anxiety. Nonetheless, the suggestion that Poles have fallen out of love with ski jumping is called false: the World Cup opening weekend in Lillehammer set TV records in Poland (2.3 million viewers on Eurosport 1 and TVN), and tickets for Wisła sold well. Ski jumping is deeply rooted in Polish sporting culture—arguably more than in Norway—so a fresh season still brings a gust of hope. The question is how long that hope will last if results do not follow.