Stephan Leyhe - Ski Jumping
- Successes
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Silver and bronze at the Olympic Games
World champion Team
24 podium finishes in the World Cup - Birthday
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1/5/1992
- Profession
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Armed forces athlete
- Club
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SC Willingen
- Hobbies
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Currently, my architecture studies. In general, I can be enthusiastic about many things and I like to try out new things from time to time.
- Role model
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I don’t have a specific role model because there are too many amazing people on this planet. When I was a child and a teenager, Sven Hannawald was my sports role model.
- What's important to me
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Trust – everyone depends on other people in life and it’s an advantage if you can trust them. Family – it’s important for everyone to have a place where they feel comfortable and secure.
Viessmann provides me with two things that are extremely important to me: trust and a family. I have a strong partner in them that I can always rely on – and have been relying on for many years. [...]
Career
At the age of five, Stephan gets his start in ski jumping at his home club SC Willingen. After graduating from high school at the Uplandschule in 2011, he can fully concentrate on ski jumping. In 2014, he makes his World Cup debut in Engelberg and finishes 13th. Beginning in 2015/16, Stephan's good performance makes him a permanent member of the World Cup team. In the 2018/19 season, he lands on the podium for the first time in an individual event in Wisla and wins the silver medal in team competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Alongside the team, he also achieves world champion at the 2019 World Cup in Seefeld. In the following season, Stephan celebrates his first World Cup victory – in front of a home audience in Willingen! A torn cruciate ligament means he will unfortunately not compete in the 2020/21 season. After the serious injury, Stephan makes his comeback in the 2021/22 season and qualifies for the Olympic Games in Beijing with good results in the World Cup. There he wins bronze with the team, his second Olympic medal.
First successes: vice junior world champion
This season, Stephan establishes himself as a permanent member of the Alpencup squad. He wins the silver medal in the team event at the Junior World Championships in Hinterzarten.
Consistent performance: vice junior world champion
One year later, Stephan wins silver again in the team event at the Junior World Championships in Otepää.
Next steps: Continental Cup competitions
Stephan competes in the Continental Cup during this period and continues to develop.
World Cup debut
In 2014, Stephan makes his World Cup debut in jumping in Engelberg and finishes 13th. This season is dominated by a number of jumps in the World Cup.
Success with the World Cup team: vice world champion
Stephan is a permanent starter on the World Cup team and wins the vice world champion title with the German team at the 2016 Ski Flying World Championship in Tauplitz/Bad Mitterndorf.
Participation in the World Championships
In February 2017, Stephan secures his best World Cup placement in individual to date, finishing fifth in the World Cup in Pyeongchang. At the subsequent Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, he takes 13th place in individual on the normal hill and 16th on the large hill. He comes in fourth in the team competition.
Continued success for Leyhe: Olympic silver
Stephan wins the silver medal with the German team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
World champion season and first podium finish in the World Cup
Stephan takes second place in the individual jumping event in Wisła, his first time on the World Cup podium. He secures third place in the overall ranking in the Four Hills Tournament. The German team is also in top form once again at the 2019 World Championships in Seefeld. He becomes world champion for the first time with Richard Freitag, Markus Eisenbichler and Karl Geiger.
Loyalty to home is rewarded: victory in the overall ranking for the Willingen Five
In February 2020, Stephan claims his first World Cup victory in the individual jumping event in Willingen in front of a home audience. He also wins the overall ranking of the 2020 Willingen Five. Stephan takes a fall at the Raw Air competition in Trondheim, tearing his front cruciate ligament and the two menisci in his left knee. According to statements made by national trainer Stefan Horngacher, Stephan will not be competing in World Cup events during the 2020/21 season.
Injury break
The fears came true and Stephan had to sit out the entire season due to injury. After hard work in rehab and rebuilding training, he wants to celebrate his comeback in the 2021/22 season and compete in the World Cup again.
Successful comeback crowned with Olympic bronze medal
After his serious injury, Stephan returns to the World Cup with strong performances and delivers a great comeback. At the Four Hills Tournament, he finishes a strong eleventh overall and also convinces in the other World Cup events. Consequently, Stephan gets a ticket for the Olympic Games in Beijing and can celebrate his next medal after PyeongChang 2018 with bronze in the team event.
An integral part of the World Cup team
Stephan is seeded for all World Cup competitions this season. However, he is not nominated for the World Championships in Planica. He achieved his best performance of the season in his home town of Willingen with 12th place and finished 28th overall in the World Cup.
Stephan is back on the podium
After his injury and the long road back, Stephan is back on the podium for the first time in an individual competition right at the start of the season. He jumped to third place in Ruka, Finland, and was able to celebrate further podium finishes with the team over the course of the winter. One highlight of the season, however, is certainly the bronze medal with the team at the Ski Flying World Championships in Kulm.
