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Stefan Kraft: "It was very moving"
In our interview series "FIS Ski Jumping-Talk" we present talks with ski jumping athletes and officials. Today: Stefan Kraft, winner of the 63rd 4-Hills-Tournament
FIS Ski Jumping: Hello Stefan. Did you already digest this great success?
Stefan Kraft: Everything went relatively fast now, so there wasn't much time to relax and realize what happened. But I definitely enjoy it. I know that something big happened. I try to use the time that I have to enjoy it as much as possible.
FIS Ski Jumping: Will you have the chance to take a break in the near future? Will you take part in the World Cup in Japan or will you have some time to relax then?
Kraft: I will definitely compete in Poland now. I'm not yet sure about Japan, chances are 50:50. I will decide this spontaneously, but actually I want to take part in every competition.
FIS Ski Jumping: What was the best moment for you since the win at the 4-Hills-Tournament?
Kraft: The excitement was very high when I returned home to Bischofshofen. Many friends where there, the family. Winning the whole thing there was very emotional and nice. But when I then met my whole family for the first time afterwards and everyone had tears in the eyes, that's very moving."
FIS Ski Jumping: Michael Hayboeck provided some excitement at the end. How nervous were you before the final jump in Bischofshofen?
Kraft: Yes, Michi was in an incredible shape, he was jumping like nobody else on these two days. Of course this made me a bit nervous. I knew that I'm jumping quite well, I was second or third in every round. But there was pressure. Before the final jump I was very nervous. I tried to remain as cool as possible and stay focused. And thank God it ended well.
FIS Ski Jumping: Many athletes were considered favorites before the 4-Hills-Tournament. You were not one of them. Was this maybe an advantage?
Kraft: Of course it's a small advantage if you don't have to attend the press conferences. But I know that I was always in the Top 10 in the competitions before and on the podium twice. I knew, that if everything goes well it can be a nice 4-Hills-Tournament. But nobodby expected me to come out on top.
FIS Ski Jumping: Did you think about winning the 4-Hills-Tournament?
Kraft: At first I was only focusing on Oberstdorf and tried to be perfectly prepared for it. I was in top shape, everything worked well and then I was relaxed and self-confident. And then it justed went great for me, like you often see it in ski jumping. You can do what you want then.
FIS Ski Jumping: You story is a bit similar to Thomas Diethart last year. Nobody reckoned with him and all of a sudden he was the 4-Hills-Tournament winner. Was he able to give you some advice?
Kraft: Of the team it was Gregor who came to me from time to time. He told me that I should remain calm, that I can do it. Also Andreas Kofler already won the 4-Hills-Tournament, the coach has a lot of experience. The whole team helped me. Thomas Diethart was definitely a role model. Everything went a lot faster for him, he had just competed in his first World Cup. I already had a pretty good season before, but of course there are similarities.
FIS Ski Jumping: In Germany people are now waiting for 13 years to win the 4-Hills-Tournament. There were hopes for it to happen again also this year. And then there are the Austrians. Gregor Schlierenzauer not in top shape, Andi Kofler not in top shape, Thomas Morgenstern just retired. And at the end Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayboeck fight for the title. How do you do that?
Kraft: (laughs) I gues it's always difficult for the Germans to handle the pressure. They always start with a home competition. They were in a very good shape, but they were nervous. This is a very difficult task. We were already training well in summer, had the feeling that we did everything we could and now we can have fun. We enjoyed this experience together. And after the good start everything just went well.
FIS Ski Jumping: The Austrians were not in their best shape after the 4-Hills-Tournament. Why will this not happen again this year?
Kraft: I think we grew closer together and we know exactly what we have to do. Michi and I are in a lot better shape than last year. I think that now we are working well as a team and the other athletes will also be in the Top 10 again. And we have to make amends for the result in Klingenthal in the team competition in Zakopane (laughs).
FIS Ski Jumping: Talking about the team competition: World Championships are coming up. Do you have special goals or will you just wait and see what happens?
Kraft: The goal is to be perfectly prepared again. I will see which way is the best for me. I want to have the feeling that I can be among the best again. The results you achieve then also depend on luck and the shape on that day. But of course it would be nice to win a medal in one of the competitions.
FIS Ski Jumping: How important is the team competition at the World Championships for the Austrians, after you couldn't win Gold in Sochi?
Kraft: The team competition is always the highlight of the season. I really like it, it's always very exciting. With Germany, Poland, Norway and Slovenia there are very strong teams. Everyone is on the same level. We want to do well and compete there with four extremely strong guys.
FIS Ski Jumping: One more short question: What headling would you like to read about yourself after the end of the season?
Kraft: This is difficult. "Michael Hayboeck and Stefan Kraft fight for the yellow bib until the end." This would be amazing. We are always joking about it and said that we will now try to defend the yellow bib together for as long as possible. And if, at the end, I'm the 4-Hills-Tournament winner and Michi Hayboeck won the overall World Cup I would be very happy for him.
FIS Ski Jumping: Hello Stefan. Did you already digest this great success?
Stefan Kraft: Everything went relatively fast now, so there wasn't much time to relax and realize what happened. But I definitely enjoy it. I know that something big happened. I try to use the time that I have to enjoy it as much as possible.
FIS Ski Jumping: Will you have the chance to take a break in the near future? Will you take part in the World Cup in Japan or will you have some time to relax then?
Kraft: I will definitely compete in Poland now. I'm not yet sure about Japan, chances are 50:50. I will decide this spontaneously, but actually I want to take part in every competition.
FIS Ski Jumping: What was the best moment for you since the win at the 4-Hills-Tournament?
Kraft: The excitement was very high when I returned home to Bischofshofen. Many friends where there, the family. Winning the whole thing there was very emotional and nice. But when I then met my whole family for the first time afterwards and everyone had tears in the eyes, that's very moving."
FIS Ski Jumping: Michael Hayboeck provided some excitement at the end. How nervous were you before the final jump in Bischofshofen?
Kraft: Yes, Michi was in an incredible shape, he was jumping like nobody else on these two days. Of course this made me a bit nervous. I knew that I'm jumping quite well, I was second or third in every round. But there was pressure. Before the final jump I was very nervous. I tried to remain as cool as possible and stay focused. And thank God it ended well.
FIS Ski Jumping: Many athletes were considered favorites before the 4-Hills-Tournament. You were not one of them. Was this maybe an advantage?
Kraft: Of course it's a small advantage if you don't have to attend the press conferences. But I know that I was always in the Top 10 in the competitions before and on the podium twice. I knew, that if everything goes well it can be a nice 4-Hills-Tournament. But nobodby expected me to come out on top.
FIS Ski Jumping: Did you think about winning the 4-Hills-Tournament?
Kraft: At first I was only focusing on Oberstdorf and tried to be perfectly prepared for it. I was in top shape, everything worked well and then I was relaxed and self-confident. And then it justed went great for me, like you often see it in ski jumping. You can do what you want then.
FIS Ski Jumping: You story is a bit similar to Thomas Diethart last year. Nobody reckoned with him and all of a sudden he was the 4-Hills-Tournament winner. Was he able to give you some advice?
Kraft: Of the team it was Gregor who came to me from time to time. He told me that I should remain calm, that I can do it. Also Andreas Kofler already won the 4-Hills-Tournament, the coach has a lot of experience. The whole team helped me. Thomas Diethart was definitely a role model. Everything went a lot faster for him, he had just competed in his first World Cup. I already had a pretty good season before, but of course there are similarities.
FIS Ski Jumping: In Germany people are now waiting for 13 years to win the 4-Hills-Tournament. There were hopes for it to happen again also this year. And then there are the Austrians. Gregor Schlierenzauer not in top shape, Andi Kofler not in top shape, Thomas Morgenstern just retired. And at the end Stefan Kraft and Michael Hayboeck fight for the title. How do you do that?
Kraft: (laughs) I gues it's always difficult for the Germans to handle the pressure. They always start with a home competition. They were in a very good shape, but they were nervous. This is a very difficult task. We were already training well in summer, had the feeling that we did everything we could and now we can have fun. We enjoyed this experience together. And after the good start everything just went well.
FIS Ski Jumping: The Austrians were not in their best shape after the 4-Hills-Tournament. Why will this not happen again this year?
Kraft: I think we grew closer together and we know exactly what we have to do. Michi and I are in a lot better shape than last year. I think that now we are working well as a team and the other athletes will also be in the Top 10 again. And we have to make amends for the result in Klingenthal in the team competition in Zakopane (laughs).
FIS Ski Jumping: Talking about the team competition: World Championships are coming up. Do you have special goals or will you just wait and see what happens?
Kraft: The goal is to be perfectly prepared again. I will see which way is the best for me. I want to have the feeling that I can be among the best again. The results you achieve then also depend on luck and the shape on that day. But of course it would be nice to win a medal in one of the competitions.
FIS Ski Jumping: How important is the team competition at the World Championships for the Austrians, after you couldn't win Gold in Sochi?
Kraft: The team competition is always the highlight of the season. I really like it, it's always very exciting. With Germany, Poland, Norway and Slovenia there are very strong teams. Everyone is on the same level. We want to do well and compete there with four extremely strong guys.
FIS Ski Jumping: One more short question: What headling would you like to read about yourself after the end of the season?
Kraft: This is difficult. "Michael Hayboeck and Stefan Kraft fight for the yellow bib until the end." This would be amazing. We are always joking about it and said that we will now try to defend the yellow bib together for as long as possible. And if, at the end, I'm the 4-Hills-Tournament winner and Michi Hayboeck won the overall World Cup I would be very happy for him.
Source: fis-ski.com
