Julian Schmid: “It’s a tough fight for the golden ticket”

Julian Schmid is one of Germany’s leading Nordic Combined athletes. The 25-year-old from Oberstdorf has already built an impressive career, with five World Championship medals, including a gold and silver medal at the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim, three individual World Cup victories, and an Olympic silver medal from the 2022 team event in Beijing. Known for his consistency, technical precision, and calm focus, Julian has become a key figure on the German team.

As the new season approaches, all eyes are on two major highlights: the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina and the first-ever Ski Flying World Cup for Nordic Combined, taking place in Kulm, Austria. We spoke with Julian during the summer to hear about his goals, training focus, and what makes this season particularly special.

You’re one of the most successful athletes, with several World Cup victories as well as World Championship and Olympic medals – what moments stand out most to you so far in your career?

I’ve achieved some great things in my career, but my favorite moment so far is definitely my World Cup victory in Oberstdorf, my hometown. It was an amazing day and a really thrilling race. That win means a lot to me.

You were 4th in the Overall World Cup last season. What are your personal goals for the upcoming year, especially when it comes to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina?

First of all, just qualifying for the Olympics in Cortina is a big challenge. But once you're there, the goal has to be winning a medal – that's what the Olympics are all about. So, my main focus is to secure a spot on the team, and then, hopefully, to fight for a medal.

Nordic Combined requires a unique balance of power and endurance. Which part of your training are you mostly focused on during the summer?

This summer, my main focus is once again on ski jumping. There are some updates to the equipment regulations, so it's important to build consistency and stability on the hill. At the same time, I’m also putting in more hours on endurance training to build a strong base for the long Olympic winter ahead.

You’re part of a very strong German team. How important is the team environment, especially at home in Oberstdorf, to your individual development and success?

The team environment plays a huge role for us. Everyone is performing at a really high level, so we push each other every day. In Oberstdorf, we have a big group of really strong athletes, and training alongside them helps a lot with personal development. When your rivals are right there with you in training, it adds motivation and keeps you sharp. It’s a great setup for improving every session.

Talking about a strong team: With the reduced quota, less spots are available for participating in the Olympics. Vinzenz, as the Olympic Champion from 2022, is a top favorite - but where do you see yourself when it comes to the fight for the “golden ticket”?

That’s true – Vinzenz is definitely one of the top contenders. But with the reduced quota, qualifying has become extremely difficult. Last season, several of us placed in the top six in World Cup races, and only a few spots are available. The goal has to be to secure strong results as early as possible, ideally in November or early December. Realistically, you’ll need to be on the podium – maybe even multiple times – to earn a guaranteed spot. For nations like Germany, with at least four athletes capable of reaching the podium, it’s going to be a tough fight for the golden tickets.

Next to the Olympics, another season highlight is the first ever Ski Flying World Cup in Kulm. What experiences do you have with flying and why should fans visit this special event?

The Ski Flying event in Kulm is a really exciting addition to our calendar. It’s the first time we’ll compete on a ski flying hill in a World Cup, which makes it very special. I had the chance to try ski flying in Oberstdorf a few years ago, and I absolutely loved it – it’s so much fun. I’m curious to see how fans will react, but I think they’ll enjoy it, especially watching it on TV. Hopefully, we’ll see some really long flights there.