Eric Frenzel - Nordic Combined
- Successes
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3-time olympic champion
7-time world champion
5-time overall world cup champion - Birthday
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11/21/1988
- Profession
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Armed forces athlete, Sergeant Major
- Club
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SSV Geyer
- Hobbies
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I spend as much time as possible with my children and encourage them in their hobbies and favorite activities. That doesn’t leave much time left for me, especially since I’m already doing what I enjoy most with my sport.
- Role model
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At the beginning of my sports career, I had a number of role models including Ronny Ackermann, Björn Kircheisen and Ole Einar Bjørndalen. They motivated and inspired me a lot at the time, and even today I’m very enthusiastic about their athletic careers. I’m very glad that I emulated them.
- What's important to me
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Health is very important to me. Not just mine, but that of my family. Going through life healthy makes so many things possible – athletically, but also for a fulfilling life in general.
I consider myself very fortunate to have had Viessmann at my side throughout my entire career, not just as a sponsor, but as a partner, supporter and promoter.
Career
At the age of six, Eric starts training in Nordic combined at SSV Geyer. In 2001 he changes to the sports boarding school in Oberwiesenthal. Eric wins no less than four medals at the 2011 World Cup in Oslo – which makes him the most successful combined competitor in this World Cup. In 2013 he sets a new ski jump record at the World Cup in Val di Fiemme, becoming world champion again. At the end of the 2012/13 season, and in the following season as well, he wins the overall World Cup ranking. In 2014 he becomes Olympic champion in Sochi. At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, he wins gold twice and bronze once. One year later he becomes double world champion at the World Cup in Seefeld. Eric is already considered the most successful combined competitor in sports history.
World Cup debut
This season, Eric competes in the World Cup for the first time, finishing 44th in mass start in Lago di Tésero. After being nominated for the Nordic World Ski Championships, where he takes 22nd place, Eric wins gold in sprint and silver with the relay team at the Junior World Championships in Tarvisio.
First World Cup victory
In January 2008, Eric secures his first World Cup victory in mass start in Klingenthal.
Vice world champion with the relay team
Eric is a permanent starter in the World Cup this season and wins silver with the relay team at the World Championships in Liberec.
First Olympic Winter Games
Eric wins the bronze medal in the team competition at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. He also secures nine podium finishes this season.
First world champion title
In 2011, Eric secures his first world champion title at the World Championships in Oslo. He adds to his collection of medals with silver in the team event and bronze in the second individual competition.
Among the top 10 in the overall ranking
Eric claims victory in the Penalty Race in the second World Cup in Lillehammer, securing another World Cup victory. He takes second place with the relay team in the first World Cup after the new year in Oberstdorf. He finishes the season in sixth place in the overall ranking.
Competing for titles: world champion, World Cup overall winner
With a total of seven victories in the World Cup, Eric wins the World Cup overall ranking for the first time. In 2013, he also wins the gold medal at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, setting a new ski jump record of 138.5 m. In addition to gold, he also secures bronze in team sprint.
Winning streak – victory in the Nordic Combined Triple, Olympic gold, World Cup overall winner
At the first-ever Nordic Combined Triple in Seefeld, Eric manages to win all three competitions and thus claims victory in the overall ranking. He is highly successful at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He becomes Olympic champion on the normal hill and secures the silver medal in the team competition. Once again, Eric finishes the season at the very top of the World Cup overall ranking.
World champion, World Cup overall winner
Having already won the first Nordic Combined Triple, Eric wins the overall ranking of the competition again this year. He becomes world champion in the team competition with Johannes Rydzek, Tino Edelmann and Fabian Riessle at the 2015 World Championships in Falun, making them the first German team to become world champion in 28 years. He also becomes vice world champion in team sprint. This season, Eric wins the World Cup overall ranking for the third time in a row.
Third overall victory in the Nordic Combined Triple, World Cup overall winner
For the third time in a row, Eric wins the Nordic Combined Triple in Seefeld. After eight World Cup victories this season, the last of which is at Schonach im Schwarzwald, Eric wins the World Cup overall ranking for the fourth time in a row.
Most successful combined competitor in the World Cup
For the fourth time in a row, Eric secures overall victory in the Nordic Combined Triple in Seefeld. He wins gold in the team sprint and team competitions at the World Championships in Lahti and secures the silver medal in the normal hill competition. In addition to these successes, Eric also wins the World Cup overall ranking for the fifth time in a row and has since been considered the most successful combined competitor in the World Cup.
Two Olympic golds and one bronze
Eric becomes Olympic champion twice at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang – on the normal hill and in the team competition. He also secures the bronze medal in the large hill competition.
The pursuit of medals continues: two-time world champion
Eric becomes two-time world champion and secures one silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Seefeld.
Minor setback: just seventh place in the overall World Cup
Eric does not perform as expected this season, failing to secure any podium finishes in a World Cup race and concluding the season in seventh place in the overall World Cup.
2020/21 season
The 2020/21 season goes much better again for Eric. At the highlight of the year, the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf, he finishes on the podium with the team and in the team sprint and wins his 16th and 17th World Cup medals with silver and bronze. He also finishes fifth in the overall World Cup.
Most successful nordic combined athlete at Olympic Games
Already early in this season Eric shines with strong performances and podium places. Accordingly, he travels to the Olympic Games in Beijing with high hopes. But first the big shock on-site: Corona infection and quarantine. After not being able to compete in the first races, he is back in time for the team competition. In an exciting race he wins the silver medal with the team. Eric is now also the most successful nordic combined skier at the Olympic Games.