Johannes Rydzek

Johannes Rydzek
Johannes Rydzek
	Rydzek in 2023
Country	Germany
Born	9 December 1991 (age 33); Oberstdorf, Germany
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Ski club	SC Oberstdorf
Personal best	204.0 m (669.3 ft); Oberstdorf, 17 March 2022
World Cup career
Seasons	2008–
Indiv. starts	268
Indiv. podiums	44
Indiv. wins	18
Medal record
Men's nordic combined
Representing Germany
Olympic Games
World Championships
	Updated on 30 November 2024.

Johannes Rydzek (German pronunciation: [joˈha.nəs ˈʁʏ.t͡sɛk] ^ⓘ; born 9 December 1991) is a German nordic combined skier. He became Olympic champion on the large hill in 2018 and won six World Champion titles at the Nordic World Ski Championships in 2015 and 2017.^[1]

Career

Rydzek has had a remarkable career in Nordic Combined, marked by numerous accolades at the World Championships, World Cups, and the Olympics. He debuted in the World Cup in Kuusamo in 2008.

He first gained international recognition with a bronze medal in the 4 x 5 km team event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Over his career, he has secured 18 World Cup victories, with his first win in March 2011 in Lahti, Finland. That same year, he earned a silver medal in the Large Hill Gundersen event at the World Championships in Holmenkollen.

Rydzek discovered his passion for Nordic sports at an early age, starting ski jumping shortly before his fifth birthday. Inspired by his father, a volunteer at the Four Hills Tournament, and his family outings on cross-country skis, Rydzek developed a fascination for the unique combination of speed and endurance in Nordic Combined.

At a young age, he can look back on some successes in his career, winning three silver medals at World Championships and a bronze and silver medal at Olympic Games. The resident of Oberstdorf, Germany, has another great achievement in his list of merits concerning the Summer Grand Prix. In the past four years, he has always been able to win at least one competition in front of his home crowd, crowning his success with the win of the overall SGP ranking in 2011. With four total World Cup victories, three in the past winter season of 2013/14, the young German has upped the ante and was hot on the heels of teammate Eric Frenzel, taking second place in the overall World Cup ranking.

By 2015, Rydzek had achieved unprecedented success, winning four medals at the World Championships in Falun: two gold, one silver, and one bronze, making him the most decorated athlete of the competition.^[2]

The last break-through of Johannes Rydzek in 2015 became his nomination for the main sports award in Germany: "Sportspersonality of the Year" (German: Sportler des Jahres) 2015, where he was announced as a winner together with the nordic combined team (nomination: Team of Year) and ranked as 3rd in personal voting by German broadcaster ZDF.

In October 2016 Johannes Rydzek wins his 6th title of German Champion in the town of Oberhof.^[3]^[4]

In 2017, Rydzek was named Germany's "Sportsman of the Year" after an extraordinary season, further cementing his reputation as one of the best athletes in the sport's history.^[5]

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Rydzek won a gold medal in the Individual Gundersen LH/10 km Cross-Country, finishing before his teammates Fabian Rießle and Eric Frenzel.^[6] This also marked the first time since 1976 that three German athletes managed to secure medals in the same Nordic combined event at Olympic Games.^[7] On 22 February he clinched another gold medal in the Men’s Team competition with Rießle, Frenzel, and Vinzenz Geiger, solidifying Germany's dominance in Nordic Combined.^[8]

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport, Rydzek was awarded the prestigious Holmenkollen Medal in 2021.^[9]

Personal life

Rydzek is the brother of cross-country skier Coletta Rydzek.^[10]

Record

Olympic Games

Event	Normal hill	Large hill	Team relay
2010 Vancouver	28	—	Bronze
2014 Sochi	6	8	Silver
2018 Pyeongchang	5	Gold	Gold
2022 Beijing	5	28	—

World Championship

Year	Individual LH	Individual NH	Team	Team sprint/ Mixed team
2011 Holmenkollen	Silver	4	Silver	Silver
2013 Val di Fiemme	10	30	—	—
2015 Falun	Bronze	Gold	Gold	Silver
2017 Lahti	Gold	Gold	Gold	Gold
2019 Seefeld	9	8	Silver	—
2021 Oberstdorf	17	28	—	—
2023 Planica	16	—	Silver	—

World Cup

Individual victories

No.	Season	Date	Location	Discipline
1	2010–11	12 March 2011	Lahti	HS130 / 10 km
2	2013–14	28 February 2014	Lahti	HS130 / 10 km
3		6 March 2014	Trondheim	HS140 / 10 km
4		8 March 2014	Oslo	HS134 / 10 km
5	2014–15	29 November 2014	Ruka	HS142 / 10 km
6	2015–16	23 February 2016	Kuopio	HS127 / 10 km
7	2016–17	26 November 2016	Ruka	HS142 / 10 km
8		27 November 2016	Ruka	HS142 / 10 km
9		17 December 2016	Ramsau	HS98 / 10 km
10		21 January 2017	Chaux-Neuve	HS118 / 10 km
11		27 January 2017	Seefeld	HS109 / 5 km
12		28 January 2017	Seefeld	HS109 / 10 km
13		4 February 2017	PyeongChang	HS140 / 10 km
14		5 February 2017	PyeongChang	HS140 / 10 km
15	2017–18	26 November 2017	Ruka	HS142 / 10 km
16	2017–18	4 March 2018	Lahti	HS130 / 10 km
17	2018–19	11 January 2019	Val di Fiemme	HS135 / 10 km
18	2024–25	30 November 2024	Ruka	HS142 / 10 km

References

^ "Johannes Rydzek - Athlete Information".
^ "Results: Johannes RYDZEK". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
^ "Deutsche Meisterschaften TEAM SPRINT". deutscherskiverband.de. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^ "Official website". johannesrydzek.de. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
^ "Dahlmeier, Rydzek und Beachvolleyball-Duo triumphieren". spidel.de (in German). 1 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
^ "Nordic Combined World Cup". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
^ "Final Report – XII. Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976" (PDF). Organizing Committee for the XIIth Winter Olympic Games 1976. LA84 Foundation. 1976. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
^ "Olympic Winter Games – Men's Team HS140/4x5 Km". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
^ Bryhn, Rolf; Sundby, Jørn. "Holmenkollmedaljen". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
^ Jochen Klingovsky (29 November 2019). "Die Rydzeks leben ihre Passion". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 25 January 2020.

External links

Official website
Johannes Rydzek at FIS (Nordic combined)
Johannes Rydzek at Olympics.com
Johannes Rydzek at Olympedia
Johannes Rydzek at the German Olympic Sports Confederation (in German)

[1] "Johannes Rydzek - Athlete Information".

[2] "Results: Johannes RYDZEK". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2015.

[3] "Deutsche Meisterschaften TEAM SPRINT". deutscherskiverband.de. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.

[4] "Official website". johannesrydzek.de. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.

[5] "Dahlmeier, Rydzek und Beachvolleyball-Duo triumphieren". spidel.de (in German). 1 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2017.

[6] "Nordic Combined World Cup". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.

[OfficialReport-7] "Final Report – XII. Olympische Winterspiele Innsbruck 1976" (PDF). Organizing Committee for the XIIth Winter Olympic Games 1976. LA84 Foundation. 1976. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2018.

[8] "Olympic Winter Games – Men's Team HS140/4x5 Km". fis-ski.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.

[9] Bryhn, Rolf; Sundby, Jørn. "Holmenkollmedaljen". In Bolstad, Erik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 22 October 2022.

[10] Jochen Klingovsky (29 November 2019). "Die Rydzeks leben ihre Passion". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 25 January 2020.

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v t e Olympic champions in Nordic combined 10 km individual large hill
7.5 km sprint	2002: Samppa Lajunen (FIN) 2006: Felix Gottwald (AUT)
10 km individual large hill	2010: Bill Demong (USA) 2014: Jørgen Graabak (NOR) 2018: Johannes Rydzek (GER) 2022: Jørgen Graabak (NOR)

v t e World champions in Nordic combined 10 km individual large hill
7.5 km sprint	1999: Bjarte Engen Vik (NOR) 2001: Marko Baacke (GER) 2003: Johnny Spillane (USA) 2005: Ronny Ackermann (GER) 2007: Hannu Manninen (FIN)
10 km individual large hill	2009: Bill Demong (USA) 2011: Jason Lamy-Chappuis (FRA) 2013: Eric Frenzel (GER) 2015: Bernhard Gruber (AUT) 2017: Johannes Rydzek (GER) 2019: Eric Frenzel (GER) 2021: Johannes Lamparter (AUT) 2023: Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR)

v t e Holmenkollen Medal
Until 1900	1895: Viktor Thorn (NOR) 1897: Asbjørn Nilssen (NOR) 1899: Paul Braaten (NOR), Robert Pehrson (NOR)
1900–1950	1901: Aksel Refstad (NOR) 1903: Karl Hovelsen (NOR) 1904: Harald Smith (NOR) 1905: Jonas Holmen (NOR) 1907: Per Bakken 1908: Einar Kristiansen (NOR) 1909: Thorvald Hansen 1910: Lauritz Bergendahl 1911: Otto Tangen (NOR), Knut Holst (NOR) 1912: Olav Bjaaland (NOR) 1914: Johan Kristoffersen (NOR) 1915: Sverre Østbye (NOR) 1916: Lars Høgvold (NOR) 1918: Hassa Horn (NOR), Jørgen Hansen (NOR) 1919: Thorleif Haug (NOR), Otto Aasen (NOR) 1923: Thoralf Strømstad (NOR) 1924: Harald Økern (NOR), Johan Grøttumsbråten (NOR) 1925: Einar Landvik (NOR) 1926: Jacob Tullin Thams 1927: Hagbart Haakonsen (NOR), Einar Lindboe (NOR) 1928: Torjus Hemmestveit (NOR), Mikkjel Hemmestveit (NOR) 1931: Hans Vinjarengen (NOR), Ole Stenen (NOR) 1934: Oddbjørn Hagen (NOR) 1935: Arne Rustadstuen (NOR) 1937: Olaf Hoffsbakken (NOR), Birger Ruud (NOR), Martin P. Vangsli (NOR) 1938: Reidar Andersen (NOR), Johan R. Henriksen (NOR) 1939: Sven Selånger (SWE), Lars Bergendahl (NOR), Trygve Brodahl (NOR) 1940: Oscar Gjøslien (NOR), Annar Ryen (NOR) 1947: Elling Rønes (NOR) 1948: Asbjørn Ruud (NOR) 1949: Sigmund Ruud (NOR) 1950: Olav Økern (NOR)
1951–2000	1951: Simon Slåttvik (NOR) 1952: Stein Eriksen (NOR), Torbjørn Falkanger (NOR), Heikki Hasu (FIN), Nils Karlsson (SWE) 1953: Magnar Estenstad (NOR) 1954: Martin Stokken (NOR) 1955: Haakon VII (NOR), Hallgeir Brenden (NOR), Veikko Hakulinen (FIN), Sverre Stenersen (NOR) 1956: Borghild Niskin (NOR), Arnfinn Bergmann (NOR), Arne Hoel (NOR) 1957: Eero Kolehmainen (FIN) 1958: Inger Bjørnbakken (NOR), Håkon Brusveen (NOR) 1959: Gunder Gundersen (NOR) 1960: Helmut Recknagel (GDR), Sixten Jernberg (SWE), Sverre Stensheim (NOR), Tormod Knutsen (NOR) 1961: Harald Grønningen (NOR) 1962: Toralf Engan (NOR) 1963: Alevtina Kolchina (URS), Pavel Kolchin (URS), Astrid Sandvik (NOR), Torbjørn Yggeseth (NOR) 1964: Veikko Kankkonen (FIN), Eero Mäntyranta (FIN), Georg Thoma (FRG), Halvor Næs (NOR) 1965: Arto Tiainen (FIN), Bengt Eriksson (SWE), Arne Larsen (NOR) 1967: Toini Gustafsson (SWE), Ole Ellefsæter (NOR) 1968: Olav V (NOR), Assar Rönnlund (SWE), Gjermund Eggen (NOR), Bjørn Wirkola (NOR) 1969: Odd Martinsen (NOR) 1970: Pål Tyldum (NOR) 1971: Marjatta Kajosmaa (FIN), Berit Mørdre (NOR), Reidar Hjermstad (NOR) 1972: Rauno Miettinen (FIN), Magne Myrmo (NOR) 1973: Einar Bergsland (NOR), Ingolf Mork (NOR), Franz Keller (FRG) 1974: Juha Mieto (FIN) 1975: Gerhard Grimmer (GDR), Oddvar Brå (NOR), Ivar Formo (NOR) 1976: Ulrich Wehling (GDR) 1977: Helena Takalo (FIN), Hilkka Kuntola (FIN), Walter Steiner (SUI) 1979: Ingemar Stenmark (SWE), Erik Håker (NOR), Raisa Smetanina (URS) 1980: Thomas Wassberg (SWE) 1981: Johan Sætre (NOR) 1983: Berit Aunli (NOR), Tom Sandberg (NOR) 1984: Lars Erik Eriksen (NOR), Jakob Vaage (NOR), Armin Kogler (AUT) 1985: Anette Bøe (NOR), Per Bergerud (NOR), Gunde Svan (SWE) 1986: Brit Pettersen (NOR) 1987: Matti Nykänen (FIN), Hermann Weinbuch (FRG) 1989: Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (FIN) 1991: Vegard Ulvang (NOR), Trond Einar Elden (NOR), Ernst Vettori (AUT), Jens Weißflog (GER) 1992: Yelena Välbe (RUS) 1993: Emil Kvanlid (NOR) 1994: Lyubov Yegorova (RUS), Vladimir Smirnov (KAZ), Espen Bredesen (NOR) 1995: Kenji Ogiwara (JPN) 1996: Manuela Di Centa (ITA) 1997: Bjarte Engen Vik (NOR), Stefania Belmondo (ITA), Bjørn Dæhlie (NOR) 1998: Fred Børre Lundberg (NOR), Larisa Lazutina (RUS), Alexey Prokurorov (RUS), Harri Kirvesniemi (FIN) 1999: Kazuyoshi Funaki (JPN)
Since 2001	2001: Adam Małysz (POL), Bente Skari (NOR), Thomas Alsgaard (NOR) 2003: Felix Gottwald (AUT), Ronny Ackermann (GER) 2004: Yuliya Chepalova (RUS) 2005: Andrus Veerpalu (EST) 2007: Frode Estil (NOR), Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset (NOR), Harald V (NOR), Sonja (NOR), Simon Ammann (SUI) 2010: Marit Bjørgen (NOR) 2011: Ole Einar Bjørndalen (NOR), Michael Greis (GER), Andrea Henkel (GER), Janne Ahonen (FIN) 2012: Magdalena Neuner (GER), Emil Hegle Svendsen (NOR) 2013: Tora Berger (NOR), Martin Fourcade (FRA), Therese Johaug (NOR), Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT) 2014: Magnus Moan (NOR), Eric Frenzel (GER), Thomas Morgenstern (AUT), Darya Domracheva (BLR) 2015: Eldar Rønning (NOR), Anders Bardal (NOR), Anette Sagen (NOR), Kamil Stoch (POL) 2016: Noriaki Kasai (JPN), Tarjei Bø (NOR) 2017: Marie Dorin Habert (FRA), Sara Takanashi (JPN) 2018: Charlotte Kalla (SWE), Princess Astrid (NOR), Hannu Manninen (FIN), Kaisa Mäkäräinen (FIN) 2021: Maren Lundby (NOR), Johannes Thingnes Bø (NOR), Dario Cologna (SWI), Johannes Rydzek (GER) 2022: Tiril Eckhoff (NOR), Marte Olsbu Røiseland (NOR), Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR), Jørgen Graabak (NOR) 2023: Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR), Stefan Kraft (AUT) 2024: Jessie Diggins (USA), Simen Hegstad Krüger (NOR)

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany