Johannes Rydzek - Nordic Combined
- Successes
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Two-time Olympic champion
Six-time world champion
Two-time athlete of the year (individual & team)
- Birthday
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12/9/1991
- Profession
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Customs official
- Club
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SC Oberstdorf
- Hobbies
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Photography, coffee, nature, mountains, skiing, cycling and my cats Hedwig and Martha
- Role model
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.I don’t have a role model per se. But I was inspired by Ronny Ackermann, who won gold twice at the 2005 World Cup in Oberstdorf.
- What's important to me
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First and foremost are values like honesty, reliability, authenticity and being in touch with nature – that’s what I try to live by, and that’s also important to me in my environment. Hakuna matata.
[...] Actually, I can’t even imagine my career without Viessmann. Viessmann has always been a reliable partner that shares my values. I am happy and very proud to be a part of the Viessmann family.
Career
Johannes is three when he stands on cross-country skis for the first time. In 2003, the former Oberstdorf world champion Thomas Müller brings him to join the combined competitors. After graduating from school in 2011, he studies industrial engineering and management in Kempten. He successfully participates in the Olympic Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018. In 2010 he wins bronze in the team competition in Vancouver, in 2014 he wins the silver medal in the team competition in Sochi and in 2018 he becomes double Olympic champion in individual and with the team in Pyeongchang. In 2015 Johannes becomes world champion twice in Falun – once on the normal hill and with the team. Johannes makes a name for himself as the most successful athlete at the Nordic World Ski Cup 2017 in Lahti (Finland), where he experiences a historic quadruple triumph.
Double victory in the Alpencup, win in the overall ranking of the German Cup
In 2007, Johannes becomes German youth champion in individual and secures his first podium finish in an FIS race in the same year. He takes second place in sprint at Baiersbronn and wins the overall ranking of the German Cup.
Successful Junior World Championships
Johannes wins bronze in the team event and silver in individual at the 2009 Junior World Championships in Štrbské Pleso. He also competes in the World Cup this season.
Two-time junior world champion, Olympic bronze
Johannes is a permanent starter in the World Cup and becomes world champion at the 2010 Junior World Championships in Hinterzarten. He wins the bronze medal with the German team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Competing for titles: junior world champion, three-time vice world champion and first World Cup victory
Johannes wins an impressive three silver medals at the 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo: in both the large and normal hill team competitions and in individual. The successes don't end there: He also secures his first World Cup victory in sprint in Lahti. Johannes also becomes world champion and vice world champion at the 2011 Junior World Championships in Otepää.
Multiple podium finishes
Johannes secures two podium finishes this season: He takes second place in the team composition at the first World Cup station in Oberstdorf in 2012 and third place in individual at the second to last World Cup in Lahti.
Three victories for Germany
In January 2013, Johannes takes third place in the Penalty Race in the World Cup in Klingenthal, behind his teammates Eric Frenzel and Tino Edelmann. Johannes claims victory with the German team in the World Cup in Sochi. He also wins the team sprint with Eric Frenzel in Lahti.
German champion, Olympic silver, second World Cup victory
Johannes becomes German champion in 2013 and wins the silver medal with the German team at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi the following year. As with his first World Cup victory, Johannes also claims his second World Cup victory in Lahti. He finishes the 2013/14 season in second place in the World Cup overall ranking.
The medal collection grows: two-time world champion
Johannes secures his third World Cup victory in the individual competition in Ruka. He becomes two-time world champion in the normal hill and team competitions at the 2015 World Championships in Falun. He adds to his collection of medals with the silver medal in team sprint and the bronze medal in the large hill event.
German champion
As in previous years, Johannes becomes German champion in individual in 2015. The winter season has its ups and downs. He wins a race in Kuopio.
Extraordinary performance: four-victory triumph at the World Championships
Johannes wins his sixth national title in individual in a row at the 2016 German Championships in Oberhof. He becomes vice champion in team sprint alongside Jakob Lange. Johannes wins both competitions at the season opening in Ruka and thus takes the lead in the World Cup overall ranking. He secures second place in the overall ranking of the Nordic Combined Triple in Seefeld, behind Eric Frenzel. Johannes achieves a historical four-victory triumph at the 2017 World Championships in Lahti: He wins gold in both individual competitions as well as in the team and team sprint events.
Athlete of the Year, two-time Olympic champion
Johannes is named Athlete of the Year in 2017. He wins gold in both the large hill and team competitions at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
Vice world champion
Johannes wins silver in the team competition at the 2019 World Championships in Seefeld.
Season dominated by team successes
This season, Johannes celebrates successes primarily in the team competition. In the World Cup, he takes second place in the team competition in Oberstdorf and third place in team sprint with Vinzenz Geiger in Lahti. Johannes finishes the season in 14th place in the overall ranking.
Mixed season
The 2020/21 season is quite bumpy for Johannes. The big successes are missing. As a local hero at his home World Championships in Oberstdorf, he comes out empty-handed this time. In the overall World Cup, Johannes is ranked 11th.
Best cross-country skier in the field
This season Johannes is once again one of the strongest cross-country skiers in the whole field. After the World Cup cancellation in Val di Fiemme, Italy, he can finally climb onto the podium again after two years with a third place finish. Johannes also qualifies for his fourth Olympic Games and narrowly misses a medal in the first race in Beijing.