Andreas "Wanki" Wank
Born: 18.02.1988
Andreas "Wanki" Wank
CURRENT
I ended my sporting career in 2019. I am currently a coach in the national ski jumping team.
Photos: Kilian Kreb, Ewa Bilan-Stoch, Jan Simon Schäfer
Greatest successes
2010 Olympic silver in the team, Vancouver
2012 World Ski Jumping Championships silver in the team, Vikersund
2013 World Ski Jumping Championships silver in the team, Val di Fiemme
2014 Olympic gold in the team, Sochi
2008 - Double Junior World Champion, Zakopane
2012 - Summer Grand Prix overall winner
Family
single
Motto
The normal is the perfect.
Your Oberhof
I came to Oberhof at the age of 10 and attended the sports high school. Since then, I have been ski jumping there and later also had my permanent residence in Oberhof. I still know quite a few people and have connections to my old home. I lived in Oberhof for 13 years.
What was your sporting career like?
I started ski jumping at the age of 6 in Rothenburg an der Saale. After a few competitions in the Harz mountains, my parents and I were asked to come to Oberhof to attend the sports high school, which I did in 1998.
In 2002 I was at the Junior World Championships for the first time, and in 2003 in the World Cup. In 2008 I was part of the national team for the first time and won Olympic silver with the team in 2010, silver at the Ski Flying World Championships in 2012, silver at the World Championships in 2013, and Olympic gold in 2014. In the summer of 2019, I ended my active career to help the team as a coach and to contribute my experience.
What was the most emotional moment of your sporting career?
One of the most emotional moments for me was winning Olympic silver in the team. That was the first time I competed in a team event with the national team. We had been struggling in the season until then, so this medal was all the more worth it.
What was the biggest sporting disappointment for you?
A disqualification in the team competition at the Junior World Championships. It's bad to experience disappointment yourself, but even worse when the whole team is affected by it.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals are to develop as a person and as a coach and to be there for the team and to support everyone as best as I can and thus have fun and success. I also want to devote more time to my family and be happy.
... because it is always nice to come to Oberhof, meet family and friends, enjoy nature, go skiing or watch the current athletes perform.
