Frau Schmid, der Start in die Saison verlief für Sie mit vier Siegen und drei zweiten Plätzen in den ersten zehn Weltcupspringen dieser Saison bestens, Sie trugen zudem lange das Gelbe Trikot der Führenden in der Gesamtwertung. Sie hatten in dieser Zeit den Zustand des Schwebens erreicht – wie ist Ihnen das gelungen?
It was really good for me. During this time, even smaller errors did not work. The fact that something is going on, because you still have a lot of things to do with the start, and the results are also possible when it comes to jumping. My entire flight system – it fit from front to back.
Did you take other ways than before?
The past season was unsatisfactory for me, tenth place in the overall World Cup was really not what I was actually doing. That's why I had taken a longer break after winter to find myself and to sort myself mentally. I traveled through Mexico with my husband for two and a half weeks and did not think about ski jumping. I haven't trained for a month overall, so took a lot of time to do nothing. But then it itched me again. I called our national coach Heinz Kuttin very soon after my break and told him: I would like to be back with full strength.
During this time there was also a resignation in the room. What did it speak for?
The thought came to me: If you stop now, it may well be that you will not forgive yourself in two or three years. Because I know myself well and know: If I give everything in summer training and get really involved in the new task, then I will also be there in winter. That was also the problem before last season. I didn't show this consequence that way and let the training grind a little.
From mid -January, however, it suddenly ran tough for her, there was no podium anymore. What had she inhibited?
Oh, difficult. This is very quick in our sport, in both directions. I think it was mainly because I didn't want to make mistakes. Especially in the way I have successively lost the feeling of looseness. I just found the right position for me, with the result that I could no longer trigger my jumps properly and therefore could no longer take off well. The feeling of looseness gave way and I cramped. From then on it worked violently in my head, I betrayed myself in details, the lightness was gone.
What details were that in which you have betrayed yourself?
Technical things, among other things,, among other things, I really didn't want to make mistakes. This is fatal because you make mistakes. You start to doubt yourself massively. I was very questioned. I really wanted to find the cause, and this restlessness when searching is not a good thing.
Did you seek mental help in this situation?
Yes, I did that. After the competitions in Willingen at the beginning of February, I visited an expert who enables mental care in combination with a horse. I work with the horse, I sometimes lead it to a special course, and I touch it. The horse reacts to my heartbeat and the feelings that I stand in contact with him. The trainer asks me questions, the horse immediately feels how I react to it. The trainer then recognizes where problems are still slumbering. We develop these topics, as well as a solution.
How did you come across this therapy option?
This was recommended to me that this offer exists in my place of residence Oberstdorf. It was therefore very obvious to me to try it out. So far I have only had good experiences.
Does this experience make your way back to the forefront?
I gradually try to get the positive things back after good jumps. In individual jumps, it works really well again, but it still lacks the consistency. I just have to stay patient, but patience is not exactly my strength.
In the meantime, her teammate Selina on Friday jumps regularly onto the podium, and the long injured Black Forest Agnes Reisch has sometimes pushed herself in individual competitions. How do you deal with the situation to have been the number three in the team every now and then?
I don't see it that negative. Personally, it takes a lot of the pressure to expect that on me. In the past few years it has always been me that had collected the podium. That's why I find it easier for me if not all eyes are directed towards me.
Before the start of the World Cup in Trondheim, which begins for her on Friday, it went a little better for her again, even if it was not enough for a podium. What is possible for you personally in Trondheim?
First of all, there will be a gigantic mood up there – Norway and Nordic skiing simply belong together. Being able to experience is a highlight of my career. Both ski jumps in Trondheim are very modern, we were able to train there in summer. The systems are harmonious, that's me. But basically it is not possible for me to top the last World Cup from two years ago in Planica. There I won three gold and bronze in four competitions. Want to be even better, that would be wild. But I know that on a good day I can jump in both individual competitions. However, the top favorite is the Slovenin Nika Prevc, who, thanks to her perfectly coordinated system, wins as she wants. In the team we have very big chances in mixed with two women and two men and in the four-man team competition. Although it is currently not easy for me to get to the mixed team because Selina Freitag and Agnes Reisch show very good performances. This is a new situation for me.
Do you already know how it will go on for you after the season?
No. After the last jumping of winter, I will see how I feel and then make a decision. The Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 would be my fourth, but the first to be spatially close to my home in Oberstdorf. I would be supported there by my husband, my friends and my family. This is a great incentive. On the other hand, I would also like to start a family. However, I am only 28, it doesn't hang on a year now.
It sounds like there is a tendency to continue.
No, there is really no trend for me yet. I still don't know if I continue or not. If I continue, then only with 100 percent, but to give them, it becomes more difficult from year to year.
