The German champion is missing in Planica.

Due to fear of heights: German champion absent in Planica

Heights are not for the faint of heart – not even for ski jumpers. Philipp Raimund explained on Instagram the reason for his non-participation in the Planica ski jumping competition: fear of heights. The 24-year-old German makes no secret of the fact that even top athletes struggle with fears, even when they are so obvious.

March 31, 2025

From: sn

"Many of you have asked why I don't jump. Here's the explanation," Raimund wrote in the post. "As some of you may know, I have a fear of heights. Most of the time, I have it under control, and it's usually not a problem in ski jumping. But occasionally, especially in ski flying, my body reacts uncontrollably."

The jumper describes how, in these moments, he feels like he is no longer in control of his own body for about one and a half seconds: “I lose control and just watch myself while I am in the claws that are holding me.”

Loss of control in 5 percent

Raimund emphasizes that he maintains control in 95 percent of his jumps. But the unpredictability of this situation is too great a risk for him: "Especially when it comes to Planica, I don't want to take the risk of that happening – not knowing whether I'm still the pilot or whether I can no longer react at all."

Therefore, the German will sit out the first three days of the competition and instead observe his competitors. His goal: to develop a feel for the hill and the conditions.

The open way Raimund speaks about his mental challenge has been met with great respect in the ski jumping community. Many fans and colleagues expressed their understanding in the comments and wished him much success, should he decide to compete after all.