Andreas Kofler

1.1. Birth and Upbringing

Kofler's birthplace, Innsbruck, is a prominent city in the Tyrolean region of Austria, known for its winter sports. His formative years were spent amidst the mountainous landscape of the Austrian Alps.

1.2. Education and Start of Ski Jumping Career

Kofler began his ski jumping journey by joining the SV Innsbruck-Bergisel club, where he trained alongside future Olympic teammates such as Gregor Schlierenzauer. He made his debut in the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup during the 2002-03 season at the age of 18, marking the initial steps of his professional career.

2.1. World Cup Debut and Early Seasons

Kofler entered the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in the 2002-03 season. In his debut season, he quickly made an impact, achieving two podium finishes and concluding the season ranked 16th overall. However, the subsequent two seasons, 2003-04 and 2004-05, saw a decline in his performance, with overall rankings of 21st and 40th, respectively. His breakthrough individual World Cup victory came on February 4, 2006, in Willingen, Germany, at the Mühlenkopfschanze HS145.

2.2. Olympic Achievements

Kofler's Olympic career was highlighted by multiple medal-winning performances. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, he finished 11th in the individual normal hill event. In the individual large hill competition, he secured a silver medal, finishing just 0.1 points behind his teammate Thomas Morgenstern. Two days later, he earned his first Olympic gold medal as part of the Austrian team in the large hill team event, alongside Morgenstern, Wolfgang Loitzl, and Gregor Schlierenzauer.

He continued his Olympic success at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Kofler placed 19th in the individual normal hill and narrowly missed an individual medal on the large hill, finishing fourth, only one point shy of the podium. However, he once again clinched a gold medal in the team large hill competition, contributing to Austria's victory with teammates Wolfgang Loitzl, Thomas Morgenstern, and Gregor Schlierenzauer.

2.3. World Championship and Ski Flying Successes

Kofler achieved significant success at both the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and the FIS Ski Flying World Championships.

At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships:

• In 2003, at Val di Fiemme, Italy, he was part of the team that finished 5th in the large hill team event.
• At the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo, Japan, Kofler won a gold medal in the team large hill competition. He also placed 6th in the individual normal hill and 8th in the individual large hill.
• The 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo, Norway, were particularly successful for Kofler. He earned a silver medal in the individual normal hill and finished 4th in the individual large hill. He also secured two gold medals in the team events, winning both the normal hill team and large hill team competitions. During the large hill team event, Kofler set a new Holmenkollen hill record with a jump of 463 ft ^{(141 m)}.

At the FIS Ski Flying World Championships:

• In 2006, at Bad Mitterndorf, Austria, he finished 14th in the individual competition and 4th in the team event.
• At the 2008 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, Kofler won a gold medal in the team competition and placed 16th individually.
• In 2012, at Vikersund, Norway, he again won a gold medal in the team event and finished 6th in the individual competition. His personal best jump of 764 ft ^{(233 m)} was achieved at Vikersund on February 26, 2012.

2.4. Four Hills Tournament Victory

One of Kofler's most notable individual achievements was his overall victory in the prestigious Four Hills Tournament during the 2009-10 season. He secured this title after winning the first event of the tournament in Oberstdorf, Germany, and ultimately finished ahead of seasoned competitors Janne Ahonen and Wolfgang Loitzl. This win marked a significant turnaround in his form after a period of struggles.

2.5. World Cup Season Performance

Kofler's World Cup career spanned from 2002 to 2019, with varying levels of success across seasons. He recorded a total of 12 individual World Cup wins, 13 second-place finishes, and 11 third-place finishes, accumulating 36 individual podiums. He also contributed to 15 team World Cup victories and 25 team podiums.

His best overall World Cup season was 2011-12, where he finished 3rd in the general standings. Other strong seasons included 2005-06 and 2006-07, where he finished 7th overall, and 2009-10 and 2010-11, where he placed 4th overall.

The following table summarizes his World Cup standings:

Kofler's individual World Cup wins are detailed below:

2.6. Injuries and Health Issues

Kofler's career was also affected by injuries and health challenges. During the 2007-08 season, he suffered two crashes in competitions, one in Engelberg and another in Oberstdorf. Although not seriously injured, these incidents impacted his form for that season and the subsequent one. Before the 2011-12 season, he faced a training deficit due to back problems related to his spinal discs. In autumn 2017, Kofler was forced to take a break from competition due to an autoimmune disease. This health issue led to his absence from the sport for a period. His performance also suffered in the first half of the 2013-14 season, causing him to miss the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

2.7. Retirement

After a career spanning nearly two decades, Andreas Kofler announced his retirement from professional ski jumping in May 2019.

3.1. Police Career and Hobbies

In 2007, Andreas Kofler began a four-year training program to become a member of the Austrian police force. This initiative was part of a specialized program designed for competitive athletes, allowing them to pursue professional careers while continuing their sports training. Kofler successfully completed his formation in May 2011, passing his final examinations.

His personal interests and hobbies include telemark skiing, football, surfing, and climbing. Kofler currently resides in Thaur, a municipality in Tyrol, Austria.