The great comeback in ski jumping! The legend is back in Poland

Stefan Horngacher’s return to Poland became famous at the end of the 2025/26 World Cup season.

However, the situation changed, at least theoretically, after Adam Małysz’s decision. The current president of the Polish Ski Association admitted that he would not run for another term at the head of the federation. And it was no secret that Małysz had a lot to say about Horngacher’s return to Poland.

Ultimately, however, the case ended successfully.

“In recent weeks, intensive negotiations have been conducted between the Polish Ski Association and the Austrian trainer. Their result is the development of a coherent organizational framework for cooperation, including a precise division of competences, a clearly defined scope of responsibility and a long-term vision of the functioning of the training system. In cooperation with the coaching staffs, the PZN Management Board has developed assumptions and approved the formula of operation. Stefan Horngacher has already started working in Poland and will act as the coordinator of the training system, closely cooperating with national team coaches. The cooperation model assumes a clear division responsibility, a specific scope of competences and clearly defined, measurable sports goals,” the Polish Ski Association wrote.

Stefan Horngacher officially in Poland! Much credit goes to Adam Małysz

The Austrian has been the coach of the German ski jumping national team for recent years. Horngacher was the number 1 ski jumper in Germany since 2019 and ended his cooperation after the last campaign (i.e. 2025/26). This best shows what kind of figure we are talking about and how much authority the former Austrian ski jumper has.

Interestingly, before Horngacher started working in Germany, in 2016-19 he worked in the same role, but in the colors of the Polish national team. So history has come full circle – and the Austrian has returned to a place where he is certainly very fondly remembered. At least in terms of results. During Horngacher’s term of office, among others: Kamil Stoch won the general classification of the World Cup (2018), won Olympic gold (2018), and the Polish national team was third on the podium at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Stoch is no longer in the squad, but others also achieved success with Horngacher – also individually. Dawid Kubacki became the world champion (2019), Piotr Żyła the bronze medalist of the World Championships (2017), and Poland won the so-called Nations Cup (2019).

It seems that Horngacher’s experience and support will be of invaluable value to coach Maciej Maciusiak.