Ski jumping world champion Katharina Althaus considered ending her career early after the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing a year ago.

"These were very serious considerations. I was about to put my skis in the corner and say: Thank you, that's it. I'm not going to do anything like that again," said the 26-year-old from the Allgäu in the "Aktuelles Sportstudio" on ZDF . Althaus was disqualified in Beijing's mixed competition because of her suit. "Then the news came that we could go ski flying. That changed everything for me," added Althaus.

At the Nordic World Ski Championships in Planica, Germany's best jumper won three gold medals (individual, mixed and team on the normal hill) and one bronze (individual on the large hill). Althaus was involved in all gold medals of the German team in Slovenia. "I'm glad I didn't stop and that I kept believing in myself," said Althaus, who also won six World Cup competitions this winter.

When asked how her career would continue after the current winter, the woman from Oberstdorf did not want to commit herself 100 percent. "I don't have any concrete plans yet. Ski flying is another dream that's coming true. I don't intend to hang up my skis after the season," said Althaus. She has been fighting for equality in ski jumping for women for years and is still hoping for her own Four Hills Tournament. When asked about the 2026 Olympics in Italy, Althaus only said: "I don't know if I'll still be ski jumping until then."