Lillehammer 22 February 1994, XVII Olympic Winter Games. 90m ski jumping event in Lysgaardsbakkene: Winner Jens WEISSFLOG of Germany, 1st, in action. Credit: Getty Images/BRUTY Simon
Born: 21 July 1964
Birthplace: Erlabrunn (Germany)
Nationality: Germany
Sport: Skiing
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Sarajevo 1984
Calgary 1988
Albertville 1992
Lillehammer 1994
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 3
Silver: 1
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 2 (85, 89)
Silver: 2 (89, 95)
Bronze: 4 (85, 91, 95)
Ten Years of Ski Jumping Gold
At the 1984 Olympics, 19-year-old Jens Weissflog won a gold medal on the K90 (normal hill) and a silver on the K120 (large hill). But injuries and difficulties adjusting to the new V style meant that Weissflog's next few years were less successful. Although he competed in both the 1988 and 1992 Games, he could do no better than ninth place in any individual event. However, by the time of the 1994 Olympics, Weissflog was back in form. In the large hill event he trailed local favorite Espen Bredesen (NOR) by 10.3 points after the first jump. Weissflog launched such a beautiful second jump that even the partisan Norwegian crowd roared its approval. Weissflog won the competition to become the only Sarajevo gold medal winner to repeat in Lillehammer. Two days later he earned another gold medal in the team event.