Markus Eisenbichler, an established name in the ski jumping circuit, is facing an unusual turn of the year. While his colleagues are preparing for the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the team hotel, the German jumper is looking for his lost form in Planica.
For the first time since the start of his professional career, Eisenbichler will not be taking part in the prestigious 72nd Four Hills Tournament after failing to even qualify for the national group.
Four Hills Tournament completely without Eisenbichler
Eisenbichler is falling short of expectations in the current ski jumping season. Even Sven Hannawald, ski jumping legend and former tournament winner, is astonished by Eisenbichler’s problem. Hannawald finds clear words for the ski jumper’s situation on ARD: “It’s a bit bitter.” He further diagnoses: “Once he’s in his spiral, it’s incredibly difficult to get him out of there. Jumpers like him then try force, and then it gets even worse.”
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National coach Stefan Horngacher does not currently have the ski jumper in his senior squad and has already been critical of Eisenbichler’s performance. “It’s incomprehensible to me that he doesn’t bring anything together,” said Horngacher on the sidelines of the World Cup in Engelberg, Switzerland. “I haven’t spoken to him. He often covers up a lot of things. We need to talk about where we’re headed. Performance counts, that’s just how it is. It doesn’t matter how many medals you have hanging at home.”
The Four Hills Tournament continues without Eisenbichler with the qualification in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which traditionally takes place on New Year’s Eve afternoon. The competition itself is scheduled for January 1st at 2 p.m.
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The Four Hills Tournament is one of the most important and traditional events in ski jumping. It attracts thousands of fans every year in late December to early January and consists of four ski jumping competitions held in Germany and Austria. For ski jumpers like Markus Eisenbichler, taking part is not only an honor, but also a significant opportunity to present themselves on the international stage and collect important points in the World Cup. Eisenbichler’s absence from this event highlights the difficulties he is currently facing and highlights the importance of mental strength and form stability in this demanding sport.
This article was partly created with computer assistance and was carefully checked by the editorial team before publication.