Severin Freund stood relaxed at the foot of one of those giant hills that had meant the world to him for almost 20 years and enjoyed the sun on his last day as a ski jumper. “I’m at peace with myself and can close this chapter in my life the way I imagined it,” said Germany’s most successful ski jumper of the past two decades when, somewhat surprisingly, he declared his career over on Sunday morning in Planica.
With the 33-year-old Niederbayern, the Olympic champion and four-time world champion, the most important link between the Hannawald generation and today’s top jumpers around Karl Geiger disappears from the scene. When Freund debuted in the World Cup in 2007, German ski jumping was second-rate. Together with Werner Schuster, who became national coach in 2008, and Richard Freitag (30), who only resigned the previous week, Freund led the DSV-Adler back up.
“I had really good years and was able to gain a lot of valuable experience,” said Freund. He celebrated 22 World Cup victories, only Jens Weißflog (33) and Martin Schmitt (28) have more among the German jumpers. Freund became team Olympic champion in Sochi in 2014 and ski flying world champion in the same winter.
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His best season followed a year later when he won gold on the large hill and with the mixed team at the World Championships in Falun/Sweden and in a memorable final he was the last German to win the overall World Cup ahead of Slovenian Peter Prevc who tied for the same number of points. Only the Four Hills Tournament victory did not succeed like every DSV eagle for 20 years now.
Friend keeps fighting back
Freund’s comeback following serious injuries will also be remembered. After two cruciate ligament ruptures in 2017, he fought his way back into the World Cup team, no longer regained his old strength, but still celebrated late successes: Freund became team world champion in Oberstdorf in 2021, two weeks ago he won silver at the ski flying world championships in Vikersund with the German team.
However, he did not qualify for the Olympics in Beijing, and many things were difficult for Freund to do. “In the last few weeks it has become clear to me that my time as an active athlete is coming to an end,” he said.
Horngacher ennobles Freund: “Leaves a big gap in terms of sport and personality”
National coach Stefan Horngacher regrets the resignation of the highly respected veteran. “Just as he focused on the point, he also came back from defeats or injuries and showed qualities that only true champions have,” said the Austrian: “Severin leaves a big gap in sport and as a person.”
Freund, who lives in Munich with his wife Caren and daughter Johanna, should stay with the German Ski Association (DSV) if possible. “My heart beats for ski jumping. That’s why I will remain connected to this sport for the rest of my life,” said the international management graduate.
(SID)
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