A Swiss ski jumper ends with a bang. © APA/afp / GABRIEL MONNET

Ski jumper ends career: “went to bed hungry for years”

The ski jumping season is coming to an end. Meanwhile, a Swiss man has ended his career and didn't mince words about it.

March 15, 2024

From: dpa

The Swiss ski jumper Dominik Peter spoke very openly about eating disorders and declared his career over. “Sometimes I got the impression that weight is more important than performance and the enjoyment of the sport,” the 22-year-old told the Swiss View. “I went to bed hungry for years.”

Peter also said: “The number on the scale drove me crazy. Every morning I woke up with fear inside me.” The Zurich-born athlete, who won the bronze medal at the 2021 Junior World Championships and took part in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, had recently taken a long break from competition.

“The number on the scale drove me crazy. Every morning I woke up scared.” The Swiss ski jumper Dominik Peter

Peter noticed the importance of weight in his sport as a teenager. “I was shocked at how thin they all were,” he said. His conclusion: “If I want to fly far, I have to be light.” Peter reports eating attacks and warning signals from his body: “When I woke up in the morning during the season, my vision was black when I got up.”

A torture for the body

In order to protect ski jumpers from anorexia, the world association Fis introduced a rule for the body mass index (BMI) in 2004. A BMI that is too low, which is calculated from weight and height, leads to a shortening of the ski length and thus a disadvantage.

According to his own statements, Peter is now doing well again. He reported that he felt comfortable in his body again. He wants to start training with the police in the fall. “I have made peace with my body and ski jumping,” said Peter.