Career Highlights of Johannes Rydzek

Johannes Rydzek poster

Johannes Rydzek is a German Nordic combined skier, who managed to become 2-time Olympic champion at 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. However, it’s not the only achievement of the athlete, who is considered as one of the best Germans in this kind of sports. Let’s discover more about Johannes and have a look at his career.

Johannes Rydzek was born on December 9, 1991, in Oberstdorf, Germany. He got engaged into the sports at the age of five. First, he did cross-country skiing and ski jumping separately. However, in 2008, he decided to compete in Nordic Combined discipline, being inspired by the speed and endurance it demands.

Success at the International Level

Johannes Rydzek poster

Johannes Rydzek poster

At 2009 Junior World Ski Championships, Johannes Rydzek won individual silver and team bronze medals. In 2012, he was a gold medalist in team event. But the best result at the junior level was shown by the athlete at 2011 Junior World Championships, where he claimed gold and silver medals.

In 2011, the skier made a successful debut at the senior World Ski Championships, winning 3 silver medals. In 2015, Johannes gathered the full set of medals, winning 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals. However, 2017 World Championships were the most successful as he claimed 4 gold medals.

Johannes Rydzek debuted at the World Cup in 2008 Kuusamo, finishing 15th. In 2010 Oslo, he rose to his first podium, winning a bronze medal in team event, and in 2010 Ramsau, he won his first individual bronze. The athlete gained his first victory in 2011 Lahti.

In total, at the World Cup events, the Nordic combined skier earned 23 gold, 20 silver and 9 bronze medals.

Moreover, Rydzek is the winner of 12 Grand Prix, 2 Alpen Cups and a silver medalist of 2009 Continental Cup. In 2017, he was called Male Athlete of the Year in Germany as well as got the Golden Ski from the German Ski Association.

Winter Olympics

Johannes Rydzek poster

Johannes Rydzek poster

Johannes Rydzek made an Olympic debut in 2010 Vancouver. He became a bronze medalist in team relay and finished 28th in normal hill event. At 2014 Sochi Olympics, he won a silver medal in team relay, being also 6th in normal hill and 8th in large hill.

At 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, Johannes showed his best Olympic results. He became a gold medalist in large hill and team relay. He finished 5th in normal hill. A curious fact is that when Rydzek claimed gold in large hill, he stood on the podium next to his teammates Fabian Rieble and Eric Frenzel, who were silver and bronze medalists. It was the first time since 1976 when three German athletes gained medals in the same Nordic combined event at the Olympic Games.

There are no doubts that Johannes Rydzek is one of the most successful Nordic combined skiers at the moment. He is already the winner of all the most prestigious competitions in this discipline and we can’t even imagine what he will show us in the future.

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