Simon Ammann wants to give it another go. © APA/afp / JURE MAKOVEC

44 and 53: Two oldies haven't had enough yet

Four-time Olympic ski jumping champion Simon Ammann has taken an important step towards his eighth participation in the Olympic Games.

06 November 2025

From: dpa

The 44-year-old Swiss ski jumper is on the roster for the first three World Cup competitions. Swiss coach Martin Künzle had only guaranteed Gregor Deschwanden a place on the team before the nominations; Ammann had to prove himself against significantly younger competitors at the training camp in Oberstdorf. He succeeded. The double Olympic champion from 2002 and 2010 will therefore be competing at the World Cup opener in Lillehammer (November 21-23).

Ammann aims to qualify for the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in February 2026 by competing in the World Cup. The ski jumping competitions will take place in Val di Fiemme, more than 400 kilometers away.

Kasai, 53, also jumps further.

Ammann is the second well-known ski jumping veteran to remain in the business: The now 53-year-old Japanese Noriaki Kasai announced a few days ago that he will start the new season in the second-class Continental Cup, where he hopes to recommend himself for bigger tasks in the World Cup.

Noriaki Kasai is still there. © AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

The 1992 ski flying world champion finished fourth at the Japanese championships and was thus nominated for the Japanese Continental Cup team. Kasai won the silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the age of 41 – and still dreams of his ninth Olympic appearance.