Almost five months before the home World Cup in Trondheim, the 30-year-old announced his retirement via Instagram.
Tande said he is still suffering mentally from the consequences of his serious fall on the ski jump in Planica in 2021. After the accident on the Slovenian facility, which is considered the most dangerous ski jump in the world, Tande had been in an artificial coma for several days.
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In 2018, Tande won Olympic gold with Norway’s team in Pyeongchang.
In the same year, the eight-time individual World Cup winner also celebrated his greatest individual success when he became ski flying world champion in Oberstdorf. Tande also won three World Championship gold medals with the team.
ePaper
Daniel-Andre Tande Announces Retirement from Ski Jumping Due to Mental Health Concerns
Norwegian ski jumper Daniel-Andre Tande has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 30, citing mental health concerns stemming from a serious fall in Planica in 2021.
Tande made the announcement on Instagram, just five months before the home World Cup in Trondheim. In a statement, he revealed that he was still struggling with the mental consequences of his accident on the Slovenian facility, which is considered the most dangerous ski jump in the world.
After the accident, Tande was in an artificial coma for several days, and the experience has left a lasting impact on his mental health. “After my bad fall in Planica just over three years ago, I needed time to realize that my fear of ski jumping was perhaps greater than my joy of jumping,” Tande explained in an interview with FIS Ski Jumping [[2]].
Tande’s decision to retire has shocked the ski jumping community, with many fans and fellow athletes expressing their support and admiration for his courage in speaking out about his mental health struggles. “Enjoy retirement,” wrote one fan on Reddit [[3]]. “He may not be done with ski jumping entirely. I think he hinted that he wants to be a part of a coaching team.”
Tande’s retirement is a significant blow to the Norwegian ski jumping team, but his decision to prioritize his mental health is a testament to the importance of athlete well-being. As Nordique Magazine noted, “The fear of jumping has become greater than the joy of jumping” [[1]].
As Tande begins this new chapter in his life, he will undoubtedly be remembered as a talented and dedicated athlete who has made a significant contribution to the sport of ski jumping. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
References:
[1] https://www.nordicmag.info/saut-a-ski-peur-est-devenue-plus-grande-que-joie-de-sauter-daniel-andre-tande-explique-choix-0912/
[2] https://www.fis-ski.com/ski-jumping/news/2024-25/daniel-andre-tande-quits
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/Skijumping/comments/1fed914/danielandretanderetires/
