New coach lifts Swiss ski jumpers
Switzerland's ski jumping team has been boosted by the appointment of a new assistant coach.
Young Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann’s historic double gold-medal winning performance at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City has encouraged the Swiss Ski Federation to invest more money in the discipline.
The new full-time assistant coach, Roland Mastel, will also be joined during the winter months by an additional assistant, Roger Kamber, who will take charge of the team’s equipment.
Berni Schödler will continue to serve as full-time coach for the team.
“These additional measures will not only give a boost to the best in the country but also to the sport in general,” said Gary Furrer, head of the Swiss ski jumping team.
“We are using the impetus we achieved from Simon Ammann’s gold medals,” he added.
Ammann’s record-breaking performance at Salt Lake City captured the public’s imagination and made the 20-year-old Swiss an overnight star both at home and abroad.
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