Martin Schmitt
Encyclopedia
Martin Schmitt is one of Germany
's most successful ski jumpers. Beginning his competitive career at the Furtwangen area skiing club in Germany, his and Sven Hannawald's
successes made their sport one of the most popular in the country. With particular help from cable TV station RTL
, they received great acclaim.
in Trondheim
. The following season, he won the team large hill silver at the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano.
In 1998/99 Schmitt won the team World Cup for the first time and triumphed at the 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Ramsau
by winning the individual and team large hill events. He defended his success at the World Cup 1999/2000.
Schmitt enjoyed particular world success in skijumping between 1999 and 2001. With 28 world cup successes (10 in the 1998/99 season, 11 in 1999/2000, 6 in 2000/01, and 1 in 2001/02), he finished sixth in the world rankings behind Matti Nykänen
(46 victories), Adam Małysz (39 victories), Janne Ahonen
(36 victories), Gregor Schlierenzauer
(35 victories) and Jens Weißflog (33 victories). At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
, he won eight medals (including four gold), and at the Winter Olympics he won two silver medals and one gold medal.
He had his best season in 2000/2001 by finishing second behind Adam Małysz for the World Cup title. At the 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Lahti
, he won both the individual and team large hills. In addition he gained a silver medal in the individual normal hill and a bronze in the team normal hill. Consequently, he became the first ski jumper to win four medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
After the 2001 season, Schmitt began to suffer from injuries, and could no longer equal his earlier successes. Nonetheless, in the 2001/2002 season he won another team gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City, as well as winning silver in the WC at Harrachov. His last world cup success was on 1 March 2002 in Lahti.
After many back injuries in the 2004-5 season, he did not take part in the World Cup for many weeks, in order that he could be better prepared for the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
in Oberstdorf
. There he won a silver medal in the team normal hill. Schmitt returned to win a silver in the individual large hill event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's most successful ski jumpers. Beginning his competitive career at the Furtwangen area skiing club in Germany, his and Sven Hannawald's
Sven Hannawald
Sven Hannawald is a former German ski jumper who competed from the mid 1990s to the mid 2000s. Hannawald won the Four Hills Tournament once. He also won four medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, as well as three medals each in the Olympic Winter Games and the FIS Ski-Flying World...
successes made their sport one of the most popular in the country. With particular help from cable TV station RTL
RTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
, they received great acclaim.
Successes
Schmitt's first great success came when, as a schoolboy at the Furtwangen ski boarding school, he achieved a bronze medal in the 1997 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships1997 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1997 took place February 21-March 2, 1997 in Trondheim, Norway. This event was the first time in consecutive championships that the number or type of events did not change since 1966 and 1970...
in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. The following season, he won the team large hill silver at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano.
In 1998/99 Schmitt won the team World Cup for the first time and triumphed at the 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1999 took place February 19-28, 1999 in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria. The 7.5 km Nordic combined sprint event debuted at these championships.- 10 km classical :February 22, 1999- 10 km + 15 km combined pursuit :...
in Ramsau
Ramsau
Ramsau is the name of several municipalities and towns in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as the traditional German name of the municipality of Ramzová in the Czech Republic.Municipalities named Ramsau include:*Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Germany...
by winning the individual and team large hill events. He defended his success at the World Cup 1999/2000.
Schmitt enjoyed particular world success in skijumping between 1999 and 2001. With 28 world cup successes (10 in the 1998/99 season, 11 in 1999/2000, 6 in 2000/01, and 1 in 2001/02), he finished sixth in the world rankings behind Matti Nykänen
Matti Nykänen
Matti Ensio Nykänen is a Finnish former ski jumper who won five Olympic medals , nine World Championships medals and 22 Finnish Championships medals . Most notably, Nykänen won three gold medals at the 1988 Winter Olympics, becoming, along with Yvonne van Gennip of the Netherlands, the most...
(46 victories), Adam Małysz (39 victories), Janne Ahonen
Janne Ahonen
Janne Petteri Ahonen is a former Finnish ski jumper who has competed in the world cup between 1992-2011. A legendary ski jumper, he is widely considered one of the best and most successful athletes in the history of the sport...
(36 victories), Gregor Schlierenzauer
Gregor Schlierenzauer
Gregor Schlierenzauer - Schlieri is an Austrian ski jumper. He began his senior career in 2005–06 with one win and three additional podiums in the Ski Jumping Grand Prix, and made his World Cup debut in 2005—06 World Cup...
(35 victories) and Jens Weißflog (33 victories). At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
, he won eight medals (including four gold), and at the Winter Olympics he won two silver medals and one gold medal.
He had his best season in 2000/2001 by finishing second behind Adam Małysz for the World Cup title. At the 2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
2001 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2001 took place February 15–25, 2001 in Lahti, Finland for a record sixth time, previous events being held in 1926, 1938, 1958, 1978 and 1989...
in Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
, he won both the individual and team large hills. In addition he gained a silver medal in the individual normal hill and a bronze in the team normal hill. Consequently, he became the first ski jumper to win four medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
After the 2001 season, Schmitt began to suffer from injuries, and could no longer equal his earlier successes. Nonetheless, in the 2001/2002 season he won another team gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City, as well as winning silver in the WC at Harrachov. His last world cup success was on 1 March 2002 in Lahti.
After many back injuries in the 2004-5 season, he did not take part in the World Cup for many weeks, in order that he could be better prepared for the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2005 took place February 16-27, 2005 in Oberstdorf, Germany for the second time after hosting it previously in 1987. The ski jumping team normal hill returned after not being held in 2003...
in Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
. There he won a silver medal in the team normal hill. Schmitt returned to win a silver in the individual large hill event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
.