World shocked by what the Frenchman did: the breakout sensation of the Ski Jumping World Cup

French ski jumper Valentin Foubert has rapidly become one of the revelations of the 2025/26 Ski Jumping World Cup. After finishing fifth in the windy season‑opening weekend at Ruka, he delivered again in Klingenthal: a first‑round jump of 140 m left him fourth at the halfway mark, and he went on to record the best French men’s World Cup result since 2009, when Emmanuel Chedal stood on the podium.

In the week between those events, Foubert also showed consistency in Wisła, placing 10th twice and finishing 12th the day before his breakthrough in Klingenthal. Speaking to Polish media, he downplayed any notion that Ruka was a fluke, saying the key this year has been simply “sleeping and eating enough,” areas he admits have sometimes been issues for him.

Foubert paints an honest picture of the challenges of being a professional ski jumper in France, where the sport remains niche and the public attitude is, in his words, “somewhat negative.” While he says the French federation is supportive, he still combines training with studies and seasonal physical work in Courchevel—helping set up events and even securing roadside trees after storms for about 50 days per year.

Head coach Nicolas Dessum, who has known Foubert since childhood, praises his ideal physical attributes for ski jumping but notes he is a free‑spirited “artist” who needs careful guidance. Foubert’s mother recalls his first coach once saying he wouldn’t have bet a euro on him; the lack of outside pressure may actually have suited his development.

Away from the hill, Foubert relaxes with flight‑simulator video games—a parallel he draws to the feeling of leaving everything behind in the air during a jump. With Ruka, Wisła and Klingenthal already showcasing his level, the 25‑year‑old is emerging as one of the World Cup’s most surprising and compelling stories of the season.