Wank, German Ski Jumper Announces His Retirement

German Ski jumper Andreas Wank announced last week on social media that he has decided to end his career as a ski jumper. Ski jumping will now be Wank free.

“The day has come to end my sporting career. I didn’t achieve everything that I wanted as a ski jumper, but I experienced some moments that were never taken for granted”, the 31-year-old wrote on Instagram.

The German added that he intends to stay involved in the sport of Ski Jumping.

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“I have completed an apprenticeship in the DSV-Academ next to my active career and will now take the opportunity to strengthen the coaching team around our new national coach Stefan Horngacher. I was able to have many experiences as a ski jumper – both good and less good. I would now like to pass them on and take on the challenge of supporting our athletes in the best way and giving everything for the team. It was always my goal to succeed and win medals. And that will remain the case, except that I now pursue the wish as a coach.”

Since his debut in December 2004, Andreas Wank participated in a total of 189 World Cup competitions. His best result was the second place in Sapporo (JPN) in 2010. At the 2010 Olympics (Vancouver) the 2008 Junior World Champion won silver with the German team, four years later at the Winter Games in Sochi, he then claimed team gold. At the Ski Flying World Championships in Vikersund 2012 and the WSC in Predazzo 2013, he could celebrate silver medals in the team events.

 

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Hi everyone, the day has come to end my sporting career. I have completed an apprenticeship in the DSV-Academie next to my active career and will now take the opportunity to strengthen the coaching team around our new national coach and my long-time exercise coach Stefan Horngacher. I was able to have many experiences as a ski jumper – both good and less good. I would now like to pass them on and take on the challenge of supporting our athletes in the best way and giving everything for the team. It was always my goal to succeed and win medals. And that will remain the case, except that I now pursue the wish as a coach. This step was difficult for me because I wanted to participate on the next Olympic Winter Games. Nevertheless, the thought of the cool team, with all the athletes and coaches, came to me that I can get involved there and want to take on the new challenge. I always had my family behind me for many years, the ski federation (@dsv_nordisch), so many great trainers, the Bundeswehr (@spitzensport_bundeswehr ) and sponsors, who also became a kind of family for me and always supported me (@viessmann_sport @fischernordic @fluege.de @kampa_haus ), also when things went stony. I am very thankful for getting the opportunity by the Bundeswehr, to start this career as a couch. I would like to thank everyone for that. But above all you who supported me at the hills cheered and gave mental upswing. I didn’t achieve everything that I wanted as a ski jumper, but I experienced some moments that were never taken for granted. I thought this would be the right moment for this picture with my most important successes and memories. I will always think of the Olympic gold and silver, silver at the World Championships and the World Ski Flying Championships, the Summer Grand Prix overall victory, double gold at the Junior World Championships, and the feeling of flying. I will make my last jump on the 27th of July in Hinterzarten next to the SGP (#hiza2019) and I would be happy if you come to cheer on our athletes and when I say goodbye in this way. Sincerly yours Andi

A post shared by Andreas Wank (@andreaswank_official) on Jul 11, 2019 at 1:01am PDT

Andreas Wank, who won the overall title in the Grand Prix 2012, will say his final farewell in front of his home crowd and will make his final jump during the FIS Grand Prix in Hinterzarten on July 27th.