Martin Schmitt is a German former ski jumper, and one of Germany"s most successful athletes.
Education
With 28 world cup successes (10 in the 1998/1999 season, 11 in 1999/00, 6 in 2000/01, and 1 in 2001/02), he finished sixth in the world rankings behind Matti Nykänen (46 victories), Gregor Schlierenzauer (44 victories), Adam Małysz (39 victories), Janne Ahonen (36 victories) and Jens Weißflog (33 victories).
Career
Beginning his competitive career at the Furtwangen area skiing club in Germany, his and countryman Sven Hannawald"s successes made ski jumping one of the most popular sports in the country. With particular help from cable television station RTL, their coverage received great acclaim. Schmitt enjoyed particular world success in ski jumping between 1999 and 2001.
He had his best season in 2000/01 by finishing second behind Adam Małysz for the title.
In addition he gained a silver medal in the individual normal hill and a bronze in the team normal hill. After the 2001 season, Schmitt began to suffer from injuries, and could no longer equal his earlier successes.
His last world cup success was on 1 March 2002 in Lahti. After many back injuries in the 2004/05 season, he did not take part in the for many weeks, in order that he could be better prepared for the 2005 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf.
Despite the lack of wins for over a decade Schmitt continues to compete.
Foreign the 2012/13 season he had to compete in the second tier FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup. Until just days before the start of the prestigious Four Hills Tournament it looked as if he would not be nominated for the first time since the 1996/1997 edition By performing strongly, even being the best-placed German after the first jump at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Schmitt got a surprise promotion back into the main squad, which allows him to participate in the two Austrian competitions in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen.
Standings
Wins.
Views
He successfully defended his title in 1999–2000.