Katharina Schmid, née Althaus, is the most successful German ski jumper in history. Now she is only 29 years old and is ending her career after this winter. She still has one big goal.
Germany’s most successful ski jumper Katharina Schmid will end her active career after this winter. The 29-year-old said this before the Four Hills Tournament in Fischen im Allgäu.
“I have decided to end my career after this season. I am super, super grateful that I had the privilege of growing up in this sport and growing with this sport,” explained Schmid, who was called Althaus until her wedding in the summer of 2023.
“I was able to experience so, so much. I was able to be part of so many first times. I’ve always been part of the team since I was 15 and was able to take along everything that was possible,” Schmid added with a halting voice.
The Oberstdorf native says goodbye to her sport with a total of seven world championship titles. She can add to her tally of two Olympic silver medals at the Winter Games in Italy next February. The highlight of Schmid’s career was the Nordic World Ski Championships in Planica, Slovenia in 2023, when she won three titles and a bronze medal.
Schmid had always left it open whether and for how long she would continue her career. Immediately after the Planica cover series, the Oberstdorf resident had already started thinking about ending her career prematurely. As Katharina Althaus, she made her debut in the World Cup as a teenager at the age of 15.
Together with Carina Vogt, who ended her career in May 2022, she has shaped German women’s ski jumping over the past ten years with strong performances and the ongoing fight for equality. After her decision, Schmid will no longer take part in the first women’s Four Hills Tournament, which will premiere in December 2026 at the earliest.
dpa/SUF
