Around the World
Thomas Morgenstern announces his retirement
After long deliberation a final decision was made: Thomas Morgenstern announced his retirement at the a press conference in Salzburg (AUT) on Friday.
"Actually I didn't really make this decision, it came up. It was not an easy step, but it was logical. During the last training camp in Innsbruck I drew the line and made my jump into a new life and I'm proud of that. Now I'm looking forward to what lies ahead and it will be a cool time", said the Austrian.
"I was preparing myself physically, probably even more than in the years before. I'm doing fine, I'm healthy and fit, this wasn't the problem. It was about the final 10 % that you need to win or to finish on the podium. If I do something, I want to do it perfectly. This isn't possible anymore, when you sit on top of the hill and start to think that the binding could break or whatever. Disregarding the fact that you can also make a mistake yourself. This makes it difficult to be successful and it was the decisive factor. I had a great, successful career with many positive moments and I want these moments to prevail."
As one of the best moments of his career, Thomas Morgenstern mentions the Olympic Games in Torino. "Not only because I became Olympic Champion, but also because of everything that happened there. A week earlier Andi Kofler took his first win in the World Cup, I was second. We then said that we will turn that around at the Olympics. And that's what happened. This experience really strengthened our friendship and it was an incredibe feeling. My dad had tears in his eyes, I didn't because I hadn't realized it yet. I will miss such moments."
H. Kuttin: "I already had this feeling."
For his long-time coach Heinz Kuttin, this final decision was not surprising. "Somehow it was already in the air. A week earlier I was training with him at home, and there you could tell that it was exhausting and he was very pensive. He then wanted to go to Innsbruck and there he had a very good final jump, with a lot of pressure under the ski, during which he showed a reaction in the air. In the afternoon we were jumping in Stams and afterwards he came to me and said that he wanted to talk. I already had this feeling. I think it's the right step."
Ernst Vettori, sports director of the Austrian Ski Association, also considers the decision of one of his most popular athletes positive. "After this very difficult season for him, it was important that he has the time to think about it all. I'm happy that he now retires because he wants to and not because he has to, due to health problems or because his performance is not good enough anymore. You can tell, that he really wants to retire. He is relieved and happy."
Now the private life comes to the fore for Thomas Morgenstern. A special priority for him is to spend even more time with his daughter. "Actually she was the first person I informed, even before the training camp. I sat next to her on the floor at home and told her: Lilly, you will probably never see me jump. That was an emotional moment for me."
The 27-year-old hasn't made any exact plans concerning his professional future so far. "There are many possibilities, a lot of things that I can do. I haven't made a decision yet, because so far ski jumping was always my top priority and I didn't have a "Plan B". I will definitely find out what I like the most and I won't get bored. Maybe I'll stay involved in ski jumping, we will see."
An impressive career
Thomas Morgenstern can now look back on an outstanding career. He made his debut in the World Cup on December 29th, 2002 in Oberstdorf (GER), only a few weeks later he achieved his first podium result in Liberec at age 16. Since then Morgenstern was on the podium 76 times and took 23 wins in the World Cup, the final one in December 2013 in Titisee-Neustadt. At the Olympic Games in Torino 2006 he won Gold on the large hill, only 0.1 points ahead of his teammate Andreas Kofler, 2011 he became World Champion on the normal hill in Oslo. The Austrian won a total of 15 medals at World Championships and Olympic Games, the overall World Cup twice and the 4-Hills-Tournament once.
Source: the official FIS site
"Actually I didn't really make this decision, it came up. It was not an easy step, but it was logical. During the last training camp in Innsbruck I drew the line and made my jump into a new life and I'm proud of that. Now I'm looking forward to what lies ahead and it will be a cool time", said the Austrian.
"I was preparing myself physically, probably even more than in the years before. I'm doing fine, I'm healthy and fit, this wasn't the problem. It was about the final 10 % that you need to win or to finish on the podium. If I do something, I want to do it perfectly. This isn't possible anymore, when you sit on top of the hill and start to think that the binding could break or whatever. Disregarding the fact that you can also make a mistake yourself. This makes it difficult to be successful and it was the decisive factor. I had a great, successful career with many positive moments and I want these moments to prevail."
As one of the best moments of his career, Thomas Morgenstern mentions the Olympic Games in Torino. "Not only because I became Olympic Champion, but also because of everything that happened there. A week earlier Andi Kofler took his first win in the World Cup, I was second. We then said that we will turn that around at the Olympics. And that's what happened. This experience really strengthened our friendship and it was an incredibe feeling. My dad had tears in his eyes, I didn't because I hadn't realized it yet. I will miss such moments."
H. Kuttin: "I already had this feeling."
For his long-time coach Heinz Kuttin, this final decision was not surprising. "Somehow it was already in the air. A week earlier I was training with him at home, and there you could tell that it was exhausting and he was very pensive. He then wanted to go to Innsbruck and there he had a very good final jump, with a lot of pressure under the ski, during which he showed a reaction in the air. In the afternoon we were jumping in Stams and afterwards he came to me and said that he wanted to talk. I already had this feeling. I think it's the right step."
Ernst Vettori, sports director of the Austrian Ski Association, also considers the decision of one of his most popular athletes positive. "After this very difficult season for him, it was important that he has the time to think about it all. I'm happy that he now retires because he wants to and not because he has to, due to health problems or because his performance is not good enough anymore. You can tell, that he really wants to retire. He is relieved and happy."
Now the private life comes to the fore for Thomas Morgenstern. A special priority for him is to spend even more time with his daughter. "Actually she was the first person I informed, even before the training camp. I sat next to her on the floor at home and told her: Lilly, you will probably never see me jump. That was an emotional moment for me."
The 27-year-old hasn't made any exact plans concerning his professional future so far. "There are many possibilities, a lot of things that I can do. I haven't made a decision yet, because so far ski jumping was always my top priority and I didn't have a "Plan B". I will definitely find out what I like the most and I won't get bored. Maybe I'll stay involved in ski jumping, we will see."
An impressive career
Thomas Morgenstern can now look back on an outstanding career. He made his debut in the World Cup on December 29th, 2002 in Oberstdorf (GER), only a few weeks later he achieved his first podium result in Liberec at age 16. Since then Morgenstern was on the podium 76 times and took 23 wins in the World Cup, the final one in December 2013 in Titisee-Neustadt. At the Olympic Games in Torino 2006 he won Gold on the large hill, only 0.1 points ahead of his teammate Andreas Kofler, 2011 he became World Champion on the normal hill in Oslo. The Austrian won a total of 15 medals at World Championships and Olympic Games, the overall World Cup twice and the 4-Hills-Tournament once.
Source: the official FIS site
