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

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

On June 13, 2025, Reinhard Heß, a defining figure in German ski jumping, will celebrate his 80th birthday. His influence on the sport and the numerous successful athletes he coached are still felt today. Former ski jumper Jens Weißflog, who won gold and silver at the Winter Games in Sarajevo in 1984 at the age of just 19, particularly remembers the formative lessons he learned from Hess. Weißflog, who also struggled with injuries and the introduction of the V-style, repeatedly showed a remarkable return to competition, especially at the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, where he achieved his third Olympic victory.

Heß was not only a coach, but also a mentor who helped his protégé André Kiesewetter to successfully convert his jumping style to the V-style. Kiesewetter was the first German to use this technique and won two World Cup victories in 1990. He wears the yellow bib that he received as World Cup leader in memory of Hess, who gave him a lot of valuable advice along the way.

Change in ski jumping

Ski jumping has changed a lot since Hess's early days. The sport, which was first included in the Olympic program in Chamonix in 1924, remains very popular and regularly attracts the best jumpers from all over the world. The exciting competitions are based not only on jump distance, but also on style and technique, with elements such as stability, balance and landing technique playing a crucial role.

• Olympische Disziplinen im Skispringen
• Einzel Normalschanze (Männer und Frauen)
• Einzel Großschanze (Damen und Herren)
• Superteam (Männer)
• Mixed-Teamwettbewerb

The recent successes of Austrian athletes demonstrate the strength of this nation in ski jumping. Daniel Tschofenig, who won the Four Hills Tournament in 2025, shows how to dominate the competition in the current season with six wins in the first ten World Cup competitions. Stefan Kraft should not be underestimated either - he holds the record for the most podium finishes in the World Cup and celebrated 13 victories in 2024.

A look into the future

With the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026 just around the corner, ski jumping fans can look forward to a variety of competitions. From individual to team competitions, the event from February 7th to 16th, 2026 in Predazzo in Fiemme Valley will be a highlight for both spectators and athletes. In particular, the excitement will increase when athletes like 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 either.

Reinhard Heß's influence, valued by athletes such as Jens Weißflog and André Kiesewetter, continues to exist in the world of ski jumping. Its 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 Jens Weißflog's career and the development of ski jumping, visit In southern Thuringia to find out more about Reinhard Heß and read on Olympic.org the story of Jens Weißflog.