During mega jump

Knauß: “I had my pants full!”

Hans Knauß had his "pants full" on his longest jump.(Bild: GEPA)

Hans Knauß recalled his wildest jump on the ski slope in the Audi Talk on the occasion of the upcoming Nordic World Ski Championships. He also marveled at his "ski jumping role model" Andi Goldberger and gave his prediction for the upcoming Nordic World Ski Championships. 

After Hans Knauß didn't get the last jump perfect at his Val Gardena/Gröden premiere in 1995, he took even more risks the next day and jumped 76 meters. "The photographers only had my skis and lower legs in their pictures. I had my pants full, it was extreme," the 54-year-old recalled.

"Goldberger was a star"
 So a ski jumping career would probably never have crossed Knauß's mind. However, the Schladming native was a big fan of ski jumping legend Andi Goldberger. "He was the high-flyer par excellence, an absolute star. Only Hermann Maier had actually triggered a similar hype," marveled Knauß. "He was a brilliant athlete and a great person, then as now."

(Bild: Audi, ATTIC FILM)

Austria under pressure
Knauß sees Austria as the favorites, especially among the ski jumpers. "Everyone is expecting medals, which inevitably creates a certain amount of pressure that they will hopefully be able to withstand," warns the former ski racer. Nevertheless, the 54-year-old is confident and predicts nine Austrian medals in Trondheim, including three golds.