Suche
Mein Konto
Ski jumping star David Haagen surprises with career end!
David Haagen, 23, unexpectedly ends his ski jumping career. Read more about his retirement and his achievements.
Ski jumping star David Haagen surprises with career end!
The 23-year-old ski jumper David Haagen surprisingly ended his career. The announcement of his retirement came via a post on Instagram that caused a stir in the winter sports community. Despite his young age, Haagen is already one of the most famous athletes in Austrian ski jumping.
Haagen celebrated his greatest successes at the junior level, where he won the title of Junior Vice World Champion in 2022, taking silver behind his teammate Daniel Tschofenig. He has now established himself as an overall World Cup winner and tour winner. Between 2020 and 2022, Haagen won a total of six medals at the Junior World Championships, which significantly consolidated his position in the international ski jumping circuit.
World Cup debut and review of his career
David Haagen made his World Cup debut at the tender age of 16. He achieved his best result in 2021 with an 18th place in Rasnov, which is his only result in World Cup points. His last appearance in the World Cup took place on January 6, 2024 in Bischofshofen, where he finished 34th.
In his resignation post, Haagen expressed that he had not achieved everything he wanted and called it time to close this chapter of his life. Plans for his future are currently unclear, which only increases speculation and interest in him.
Junior World Championships in context
Haagen's successes at the junior level are particularly notable when you look at the list of junior world champions in ski jumping. These competitions have produced many well-known athletes who later achieved success in the World Cup. For example, the entire range of winners, from Finnish ski jumping star Toni Nieminen in the early 1990s to the younger talents of today who are asserting themselves in the international arena.
In 2021, Haagen won the silver medal at the Junior World Championships, beaten only by Tschofenig, and his involvement in ski jumping has fueled hopes of future success for the Austrian Ski Jumping Association. If you look at the previous winners and medalists, it becomes clear that the Junior World Championships are an important indicator of the upcoming potential in the sport.
In summary, Haagen is an example of untapped potential who has announced his retirement despite undeniable success at the junior level. While the sports world now says goodbye to him, it remains to be seen what path he will take in the future.