Sven Hannawald Born: November 9th 1974 Birthplace: Erlabrunn Lives: in Hinterzarten Ski Club: SC Hinterzarten Family: Mother, father and younger sister Height: 184 cm Weight: 65 kg Hobbies: Tennis, inline skating, taking it EASY, baking cookies and sunbathing Favourite music: Pop, hip hop Motto: Carpe diem - and have as much fun as possible! Quote: "Ich mach' einfach mein Zeug" ("I just do my own thing") Gear: Rossignol (skis), Carrera (helmet, goggles) Homepage: www.sven-hannawald.de

© skispringen.com

Born and raised in the Saxon region of former East Germany, where snowy hills dot the landscape and opportunities to learn the sport are ample, Hannawald took his first jump at age 6. The sport quickly became a passion for the young athlete, who began training for and competing in Nordic combined (a mix of cross-country and jumping) events while still in grade school. At age 15, Hannawald's slow progress in cross-country convinced him to concentrate exclusively on the technically demanding jumps. In 1990, Hannawald and his family moved west and settled near the southern city of Ulm. He studied and trained at a nearby ski boarding school, then completed an apprenticeship as a communications electronics specialist. Hannawald now lives and trains full time in Hinterzarten in the Black Forest. Hannawald debuted on the World Cup circuit during the 1993-1994 season. In 1997, he won his first Four Hills event, then went on to his first Olympic competition at the games in Nagano, where he won a bronze. But exhausting training and competition schedules took their toll. Hannawald suffered a poor winter season in 1998-1999 and concerns swirled on the circuit that Hannawald was too thin or even anorexic and needed to bulk up to perform, though Hannawald denied his weight was an issue. He missed part of the 1999-2000 season due to a viral infection but still finished fourth in the World Cup standings. Hannawald says it wasn't until midway through the 1999-2000 season that he began to regain his confidence and his enjoyment of the sport. Building on that poise and pleasure, the 2001-2002 season has proven his best yet - with his stunning sweep of the Four Hills tournament and a string of World Cup victories. He seems as astonished by his own performance as the rest of the sporting world. "I don't know how I'm doing this," he admitted after achieving his fifth straight World Cup victory in mid-January 2002.

Hannawald E-mail Cards

Home

Interviews

Wallpapers

NEW Guestbook