Andreas "Andi" Goldberger (born 29 November 1972) is an Austrian former ski jumper. In 1994 he became the first man in history to jump over 200 metres, but did not manage to stand.

Career

He won the World Cup overall titles three times (1993, 1995, 1996), the Four Hills Tournament twice (1992/93, 1994/95), with multiple medals in the Nordic World Championships and Winter Olympics. Despite his success at ski jumping, Goldberger preferred ski flying—a more extreme version of normal ski jumping, in which distances are far greater.

History was made

On 17 March 1994, during training for the Ski Flying World Championships on Velikanka bratov Gorišek in Planica, Slovenia, he recorded a jump of 202 metres (663 ft); this made him the first man to ever to jump over two hundred metres, but he touched the snow upon landing, thus making the jump invalid as an official world record (Finland's Toni Nieminen would later land a 203 m jump at the same event).

World record

On 18 March 2000, he set the ski jumping world record distance at 225 metres (738 ft) on Velikanka bratov Gorišek in Planica, Slovenia It stood for the next three years.

Controversy

In 1997 Goldberger admitted to the use of cocaine, and was given a six-month ban from the Austrian Ski Association. As a result of that ban, in November 1997, he even declared he would, from that moment on, compete under the flag of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Yet, after reaching an agreement with the Austrian Ski Association, he continued competing for his native Austria.

End of career

Goldberger last World Cup appearance as a ski jumper was in Lahti on 6 March 2005 (49 place). In 2006 he officially ended his career with his final jump as a test jumper in Kulm, Austria. After ending his ski jumping career he immediately became an expert co-commentator on the Austrian national TV station ORF, where he still works today.

World Cup

Standings

Wins

Ski jumping world records

Not recognized. Ground touch at world record distance, but first ever jump over 200 metres.