Andreas "Andi" Widhölzl (born 14 October 1976) is an Austrian former ski jumper.
During his career, he won world championships and Olympic titles.
Career
Early years Widhölzl was interested in ski-jumping from an early age, his interest coming from watching the sport on television. At around this time he joined the Tyrolese Ski Federation and learnt to ski. When he was seven years old, a school friend convinced him to join the Fieberbrunner Weitenjäger. After a few years, Widhölzl earned his first success in the district and regional championships for his age group.
World Cup debut Widhölzl began his World Cup ski-jumping career in 1993. Between 1997 and 2000, he won two Olympic bronzes and two world championship medals, along with sixteen victories in World Cup events.
Four Hills Tournament During this time came his victory in the 1999/2000 Four Hills Tournament. During this season, he came second in the ski-jumping World Cup. In the next five years, he won only one World Cup event, however, in 2005 he twice won the world championship with the Austrian National Team and a year later he was part of the Austrian Team that won the Team Olympic Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics.
End of career In March 2008, following health problems, he ended his fifteen-year-long World Cup ski-jumping career.
World Cup
Standings Season Overall1992/93 — 55 — N/A N/A1994/95 26 18 — N/A N/A 1995/96 20 37 16 N/A 211996/97 15 14 13 161997/98 7 71998/99 7 14 21 40 61999/00 5 6 2000/01 12 16 28 52 N/A2001/02 4 5 N/A 21 N/A2002/03 12 N/A 41 N/A2003/04 29 17 N/A — N/A2004/05 8 16 N/A 19 N/A2005/06 10 18 N/A 8 N/A2006/07 33 22 N/A 34 N/A
Wins No. Season Date Location Hill Size 1 1996/97 9 March 1997 Lahti Salpausselkä K114 LH2 1997/98 20 December 1997 Engelberg Gross-Titlis-Schanze K120 LH3 5 February 1998 Sapporo Ōkurayama K120 LH4 1 March 1998 Vikersund Vikersundbakken K175 FH5 4 March 1998 Kuopio Puijo K120 (night) LH6 1998/99 12 December 1998 Oberhof Hans-Renner-Schanze K120 LH7 6 January 1999 Bischofshofen Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze K120 LH8 1999/00 4 December 1999 Predazzo Trampolino dal Ben K120 (night) LH9 5 December 1999 Predazzo Trampolino dal Ben K120 (night) LH10 1 January 2000 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Große Olympiaschanze K115 LH11 3 January 2000 Innsbruck Bergiselschanze K110 LH12 6 January 2000 Bischofshofen Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze K120 LH13 5 February 2000 Willingen Mühlenkopfschanze K120 LH14 6 February 2000 Willingen Mühlenkopfschanze K120 LH15 2001/02 24 January 2002 Hakuba Hakuba K120 LH16 26 January 2002 Sapporo Ōkurayama K120 LH17 2002/03 30 November 2002 Kuusamo Rukatunturi K120 (night) LH18 2004/05 15 January 2005 Tauplitz/Bad Mitterndorf Kulm HS200 FH
Invalid ski jumping world record DateHillLocationMetresFeet17 March 2005 Letalnica bratov Gorišek HS215 Planica, Slovenia234.5769 Not recognized! Crash at world record distance.
References
FIS Newsflash 177 on Widhölzl's retirement announcement. 30 April 2008.