80 years of Reinhard Hess: The master of ski jumping in portrait!

80 years of Reinhard Hess: The master of ski jumping in portrait!

Suhl, Deutschland - On June 13, 2025, Reinhard Heß, a formative figure in German ski jumping, celebrates his 80th birthday. His influence on sport and the numerous successful athletes he trained are still noticeable. In particular, the former ski jumper Jens Weißflog, who won gold and silver at the winter games in Sarajevo in 1984, recalls the formative lessons he learned from Hess. Weißflog, who also had to deal with injuries and the introduction of the V-style, repeatedly showed a remarkable return to the competition, especially at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, where he introduced his third Olympic victory.

Hess was not only a coach, but also a mentor who helped his protégé André Kiesewetter to successfully switch the jump style to the V style. Kiesewetter was the first German to take this technique and won two World Cup victories in 1990. He wears the yellow camisole, which he received as a World Cup leader, in memory of Heß, who gave him many valuable advice.

change in ski jumping

ski jumping has changed significantly since the early days. The sport, which was first added to the Olympic program in Chamonix in 1924 in 1924, is still very popular and regularly attracts the best jumpers from all over the world. The exciting competitions are not only based on the leap, but also on style and technology, with elements such as stability, balance and landing technology playing a crucial role.

• Olympic disciplines in ski jumping
• Single normal hill (men and women)
• single large hill (women and men)
• superteam (men)
• Mixed team competition

The recent successes of Austrian athletes demonstrate the strength of this nation in ski jumping. Daniel Tschofenig, who won the four-hill tour in 2025, shows how you can dominate the competition in the current season with six victories in the first ten World Cup competitions. Stefan Kraft should also not be underestimated - he holds the record for most podium places in the World Cup and celebrated 13 victories in 2024.

A look into the future

With the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026 at the door, ski jumping fans can look forward to a variety of competitions. From single to team competitions, the event will be a highlight for both spectators and athletes from February 7th to 16th, 2026 in Predazzo in the Fleimstal. In particular, the tension will increase when athletes such as Katharina Schmid, who already has two silver medals, and Nika Prevc, who won her first World Cup individual competition at the age of 18, fight for the medals. Eva Pinkelnig, who won the overall World Cup in 2023, will not miss her place in the spotlight.

The influence of Reinhard Hess, valued by athletes such as Jens Weißflog and André Kiesewetter, remains in the world of ski jumping. His philosophy, coupled with modern technical progress, shows that this sport embodies both tradition and innovation. Congratulations, Reinhard Hess! Her passion has inspired many and will continue to do so.

For further insights into the career of Jens Weißflog and the development of ski jumping, visit in Süddthüringen to learn more about Reinhard Hess On olympic.org The story of Jens Weißflog.