Ski Jumper With Fear of Heights Wins Olympic Gold

Philipp Raimund just became an Olympic champion in ski jumping despite being terrified of heights. The 25-year-old German athlete won gold at the Milano Cortina Olympics without ever winning a single World Cup race.

"I don't know how I did it," Raimund told German television moments after his victory in Predazzo, Italy. "Now I'm simply an Olympic champion."

Raimund's journey began at age five when he watched his older brother Fabian compete. The family moved twice to support both brothers' training, eventually settling in Oberstdorf, a ski jumping hotbed in southern Germany.

But Raimund faced an unusual challenge for a ski jumper. He suffers from a fear of heights that sometimes takes control of his body during jumps.

"For about a second and a half, it's like I am just observing myself while something has a tight grip on me," he explained. He works with a mental coach to manage the fear, though it still surfaces during ski flying events with exceptionally long jumps.

At the end of last season, Raimund skipped the Ski Flying World Cup in Slovenia, where jumps reached over 250 meters. The normal hill in Predazzo measures only around 110 meters, which suits him much better.

His teammates describe him as funny and extroverted, though he goes silent when nervous. "When I'm really nervous, I'm quiet. I might not speak for three hours," Raimund said.

His coach Stefan Horngacher admits they clashed at first. "We've had some real arguments," the Austrian recalled. But he praises Raimund's incredible technique and athletic ability.

Why This Inspires

Despite years of immense talent, Raimund rarely stood on podiums except in team competitions. His first major individual victory coming at the Olympics shows that persistence and mental health support can help athletes overcome seemingly impossible barriers.

Raimund's willingness to work with a mental coach and skip events that trigger his fear demonstrates that managing limitations is just as important as pushing through them. His gold medal proves that success doesn't require being fearless, just brave enough to keep trying.

For an athlete who once considered the top step of the podium out of reach, Raimund now owns the biggest prize in his sport.