Ski jumping legend Kamil Stoch announces retirement after the 2026 Olympics!

Ski jumping legend Kamil Stoch announces retirement after the 2026 Olympics!

The Polish ski jumper Kamil Stoch, three-time Olympic champion, has decided to end his career after the upcoming Olympic winter. The 37-year-old announced this step in order not to remain active like the 52-year-old Japanese Noriaki Kasai. Stoch has experienced a dip in form in recent years and would like to say goodbye with dignity. His last World Cup victory was in January 2021, when he triumphed in Titisee-Neustadt, Germany.

In recent months, Stoch has hardly been present on the international stage: last winter season he did not take part in the prestigious Four Hills Tournament or in the World Championships in Trondheim. Nevertheless, the athlete's final World Cup season will take place under the leadership of his new coach Maciej Maciusiak, who took over the Polish ski jumping team after Thomas Thurnbichler's early departure.

A look back at Stoch's career

Kamil Stoch has achieved a lot during his career. In addition to his Olympic victories, he has won the Four Hills Tournament three times and achieved a total of 39 World Cup victories. These successes make him a legend in ski jumping. Another significant aspect of his sport is that during competitions, athletes jump from a ski jump to land as far as possible. Placement is based on various criteria, including jump distance and style, consisting of ski stability and technique.

Ski jumping is an Olympic discipline that has been part of the Olympic Games since 1924. The sport includes various competitions, including normal hill and large hill for men and women, as well as team competitions. The next Winter Olympics ski jumping competitions will take place February 7-16, 2026 in Predazzo, Italy. A total of six competitions will be held there, including the individual competitions and the mixed team competition.

Current trends in ski jumping

The latest developments in ski jumping show that athletes like Daniel Tschofenig and Stefan Kraft are still in the fast lane. Tschofenig, who won the 2025 Four Hills Tournament, celebrated six victories in the first ten World Cup competitions in the 2024/25 season. Stefan Kraft also put in an impressive performance by achieving 13 wins in 2024, becoming the record holder for the most podium finishes in Ski Jumping World Cup history.

As Stoch prepares to say goodbye, other athletes, such as Slovenia's Nika Prevc and Germany's Katharina Schmid, are looking ahead to the upcoming Olympics. They are aiming for Olympic glory at Milan-Cortina 2026, where there is the possibility of setting new records.

Kamil Stoch is sure to bring a lot of emotion to his final appearance at international ski jumping competitions as the ski jumping community looks back on his impressive career and watches the talent to come. For many fans, the three-time Olympic champion remains a symbol of excellence in this fascinating sport.

Further information about the Olympic winter sports and ski jumping is available here olympics.com available.

For more about Kamil Stoch's end to his career and current developments in ski jumping, visit sportschau.de and krone.at.