In our series "FIS Ski Jumping-Talk" we present interviews with ski jumping athletes and officials. Today: Double Olympic Champion Kamil Stoch (28).

Since winning two Olympic Gold medals last year in Sochi, at the latest, Kamil Stoch if one of the best ski jumpers ever. With the exception of the 4-Hills-Tournament, the 2013 World Champion already won everything. Last season, the 15-time winner of World Cup competitions, could barely show his best performance due to an ankle injury. But Stoch wants to attack again already in the upcoming FIS Grand Prix.

FIS Ski Jumping: Hello Kamil, how are you? How did you spend this summer so far?

Kamil Stoch: I'm doing fine, thanks. I had a lot of things to do in spring and summer. I already started training again early April, so far I didn't have time for a vacation.

FIS Ski Jumping: Are you planning a vacation?

Stoch: Yes, in the second half of August I'll take a few days off together with my wife.

FIS Ski Jumping: Have you fully recovered from your injury now or is it still causing problems?

Stoch: No, everything's fine. I can fully train and I don't have any problems. That's very important to know. I can really focus on improving my performance.

FIS Ski Jumping: Many athletes, who were injured once, say that it's difficult to trust your own body again. Have you made a similar experience?

Stoch: Actually not, I trust my body. But from time to time I feel a bit of pain. But that's normal and it'll probably be like that until the end of my career. This is nothing I have to worry about.

FIS Ski Jumping: Last season was difficult for you. You once told that you can take something positive out of every situation. When you think about last winter, what would that be?

Stoch: That's right, it was a difficult season, especially at the beginning. I was training really hard all over summer and I believed that I would have a great season. Then I got injured. It just happened, without me making any mistake. It can't really be said when and how it exactly happened.

The good thing about it was that I had the chance to spend a lot of time at home with my wife and my family. I could recharge my batteries. And I was very happy that I was able to keep up with the best right away when I made my comeback at the 4-Hills-Tournament. This was important.

FIS Ski Jumping: The highlight for the Polish team was the team competition at the World Championships. Did you believe that this success was possible? Before that, the season didn't go that well for the team.

Stoch: For our team a lot always depends on how we start the winter. In the first competitions we try to find our good jumps. After two to three weeks we want to be in a good shape. Last winter this start wasn't good.

Then it went pretty well at the World Championships. Especially our young athletes like Klemens Muranka or Jan Ziobro did a very good job. Also Piotr Zyla was jumping well. For me it was difficult. After my comeback I tried to get closer to the Top 10, that cost a lot of energy. At the World Championships I didn't feel well. I was lacking this energy. But at the end we were able to achieve a very good result in the final competition. This medal was a great reward for our hard work over the whole winter. I was, and still am, very happy about it.

FIS Ski Jumping: Let's look ahead. You recovered from your injury, are on a good level in training, you are well rested and definitely highly motivated. What will be possible for you in the upcoming winter?

Stoch: It's still a lot of time until the winter. Right now I'm focusing on the Grand Prix and the training. I try to do a good job and I'm very happy with it. I want to improve my performance and my jumps. Currently I'm especially working on my technique. After the break in spring some athletes have problems to find their perfect technique and I'm one of them (laughs). The past weeks were very exhausting, I was training a lot. But this will have a positive effect on my jumps. Now I'm looking forward to the first competitions. I like competing with others.

FIS Ski Jumping: How much are you looking forward to the Grand Prix opener in Wisla?

Stoch: I'm very happy that we start in Poland. I think that most of the athletes like the competitions in Poland. It's an amazing atmosphere and great fans. I'm looking forward to great competitions on a very high level. And I hope that the weather conditions will be good.

FIS Ski Jumping: What do you think about the cancelation of the Grand Prix in Zakopane?

Stoch: I don't want to speak too much about it. I'm very sad about this situation. We were literally begging that the whole facility is reconstructed. Not only the large hill, but also the smaller ones. What happened now is very sad. I don't know, who made a mistake and let this happen. This is none of my business. My problem is that we can now only train in Wisla and Szczyrk. This is a pity. Zakopane is special. I grew up there.

FIS Ski Jumping: Last question: Is there a headling that you would like to read about yourself one day?

Stoch: I don't know. I always try to do a good job with what I do. And to be myself while doing it. Then it doesn't really matter what somebody writes.

Source: fis-ski.com