Adam Małysz, once known as "The Eagle from Wisła," undeniably contributed to the increased popularity of ski jumping. Who knows, without his phenomenal jumps, whether we could today be proud of the team performances and medals achieved by Kamil Stoch, Dawid Kubacki, or Piotr Żyła.
"Małyszmania" - as the extraordinary Polish interest in ski jumping was called - began in January 2001 when Adam Małysz won the 49th Four Hills Tournament. Following this victory, there were more, emphasizing his phenomenal athletic abilities. What was Małysz's career like? And how did he contribute to the development of Wisła?
Adam Małysz - History and Trivia
Adam Małysz was born on December 3, 1977, in Wisła, and he made his first jump at the age of six. His passion for ski jumping at such a young age was not accidental. Małysz's great-grandfather had his ski jumping hill! His uncle was also a ski jumper, later becoming a coach.
At the age of 16, Małysz became the vice-champion of Poland in the younger junior and children's categories in ski jumping on the K40 hill in Wisła. A month after this victory, he made his debut in the individual competition of the Polish Senior Championships (on the normal K85 hill), finishing 14th. He also made his international debut, precisely in the Continental Cup, at the age of 16.
In 1994, still a junior, he became the vice-champion of Poland among seniors on the Great Krokiew hill. The day after that victory, he became the senior national champion on the Medium Krokiew hill. In the autumn of 1994, Małysz joined the Polish national ski jumping team. On January 4, 1995, he participated for the first time in the World Cup in Innsbruck, finishing 17th and thus earning his first points in the overall standings. However, he entered the top ten ski jumpers for the first time in his career a year later, finishing ninth in Engelberg.
On February 18, 1996, our champion stood on the World Cup podium for the first time. He finished second, with Masahiko Harada as the only one to beat him. He won the first place in the World Cup on March 17, 1996, in Oslo. In the overall standings for the 1996/97 season, he finished tenth. Unfortunately, the following season was much worse, to the extent that our ski jumper contemplated ending his sports career. Only in the 1999/2000 season was he classified in the World Cup in 28th place, earning a total of 214 points.
In the 2000/2001 season, as the first Pole, he won the Four Hills Tournament. He was also the first in history to score over 1,000 points in all competitions. From that moment on, the Polish ski jumper achieved more and more successes. In February 2001, he won a silver medal on the large hill and a gold medal on the normal hill at the World Championships in Lahti. Throughout the season, he won eleven times in World Cup competitions and triumphed in the overall classification.
In the 2001/2002 winter season, Adam Małysz never finished outside the top ten in World Cup competitions, and he led the overall World Cup standings throughout the season.
The next season brought more successes, including a lifetime and Polish record (225 meters) in Planica. Małysz's good form, or rather, his tremendous talent and titanic work, led him to more successes in the following years. Even when he ended his sports career in the 2010/2011 season, he still maintained a high level of performance, securing, for example, an individual victory in the Summer Grand Prix, third place in the overall World Cup standings, and fourth place in the flying hill ranking.
Adam Małysz officially ended his ski jumping career on March 26, 2011, during an event at the Great Krokiew hill in Zakopane. However, this was not the end of the challenges he set for himself. Fans could watch his participation in car rallies; he took part in the Rallye Dakar, for example. In April 2013, he won the Tolimpex Cup rally in Hungary, marking his first career victory. However, he decided to end this adventure and became the director of the ski jumping and Nordic combined national team, joining the Polish Ski Association.
Adam Małysz Ski Jumping Hill in Wisła
Although the ski jump in Wisła Malinka was built in 1933, it might not have been reconstructed if it weren't for the popularity of "The Eagle from Wisła."
The first record holder on the original wooden ski jump was Mieczysław Kozdruń, who jumped 41 meters. The ski jump was modernized in 1953 and 1970. The new K-120 (HS-134) ski jump was completed on September 27, 2008, and its patron became Adam Małysz, who made the first jump on it. The first international competitions were held in 2009 (Continental Cup). The first World Cup competitions took place on January 9, 2013.
The ski jump is open to tourists. You can check the current opening hours on the website www.wisla-malinka.com.
"Sport Trophies of Adam Małysz" Gallery
Another frequently visited place for ski jumping fans is the "Sport Trophies of Adam Małysz" Gallery. Here, you can admire the trophies won by "The Eagle from Wisła." In the gallery, you can find, among other things, medals from the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and Vancouver, as well as Crystal Globes. Among the exhibits, you can also find Adam Małysz's ski equipment. Ticket prices and opening hours are available on the website: www.malysz.org.
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