“Nerve-wracking!” - Katharina Gruber's breakthrough season

At just 17, Katharina Gruber shocked the Nordic Combined world with an unexpected World Cup victory in Trondheim last December.

Since then, the Austrian talent has quickly established herself among the sport’s elite, finishing the season as one of the top athletes overall.
Known for her strength on the hill and her fearless approach, Gruber represents a new generation aiming high, while staying grounded in her love for the sport.

You became a World Cup winner at just 17 years old. Did this early success change your goals or expectations for the coming years?

Yes, the win was very surprising for me. It definitely changed my goals for the next few years, because I’ve already achieved these kinds of results now and I want to keep performing at that level and be consistently among the top athletes.

Your victory came in Trondheim in the mass start. What stands out most in your memory from that day?

It was very nerve-wracking. After the cross-country race, I was in 13th place. Based on that position, I didn’t really think it would work out, but time-wise it was still under a minute. I knew I had shown some really good jumps in training and that a top-10 finish was possible. But I never expected to move that far up. That’s why I was so surprised and so happy when it worked out. I think I’ll remember that day forever.

From your first World Cup in Ramsau 2024 to finishing 6th overall this season – how did you experience your rapid development in such a short time?

Over the summer, we invested a lot of time in jump training, which helped me improve a lot. But I was also able to improve in cross-country skiing. That allowed me to develop really well overall, and I really enjoyed being able to compete at the front so quickly.

Your strength lies especially on the hill. What makes a really good jump for you, and what do you want to work on in the future?

You can usually feel a really good jump right after take-off, when you reach a good flight position and the air carries you. It feels like you’re flying, and that’s a really great feeling. In the future, I want to work on making that happen as consistently as possible in every jump.

Despite your young age, you are already consistently in the World Cup top 10 and were the most successful Austrian last season. How do you handle this role, and what support do you get from your team?

Honestly, everything is pretty much the same as in previous seasons. We focus on working well together as a team. Sometimes one athlete performs best, sometimes another, and we try to support and motivate each other as much as possible.

You are part of a new generation in women’s Nordic Combined. What motivates you the most, and what are your goals for the coming years?

What motivates me most is that I simply enjoy the sport so much. I get up every day and already look forward to training again. My goals for the coming years definitely include the Olympic Games. It would be a huge dream for all of us women to compete there and fight for medals.