New role: Eric Frenzel becomes World Cup coach

After the resignation of Hermann Weinbuch, a team of coaches takes over responsibility for the men’s Nordic Combined World Cup team.

In addition to the previously responsible coaches Kai Bracht and Heinz Kuttin, Eric Frenzel is now strengthening this new team of coaches. Eric Frenzel, the most successful athlete in this discipline with 25 medals won at Olympic Games (7) and World Championships (18), thus makes a seamless transition from athlete to coach.

"Nordic Combined was my life and will be in the future," says Eric Frenzel. “This discipline has given me so much, so it goes without saying that I will remain true to Nordic Combined. The German Ski Association gave me the opportunity to contribute my experience to the coaching team in the future. That's great and I'm really looking forward to the new task. In addition, it is important to fight to keep Nordic Combined in the Olympic program,” says the 34-year-old. "It is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the sport that former athletes and big names also work for it. As part of the coaching team in the World Cup, I am directly involved in the sport, have an international network and can therefore contribute my part to an Olympic future for the discipline.”

Bundled know-how in Nordic Combined

While the former world-class athlete Eric Frenzel is strengthening the coaching staff of the World Cup team with immediate effect, Hermann Weinbuch will take on the role of head coach for the Nordic Combined youth in future.

The most successful German national coach, under whose 27-year leadership (1996-2023) 57 medals were won at the Olympic Games and World Championships, will now increasingly contribute his experience to the youth sector.

In addition, Weinbuch will also support Frenzel in his new position and provide him with advice and assistance.

"The German Ski Association and I have agreed that I will continue to contribute my sporting knowledge and experience to the development of the discipline," says the 63-year-old.

"Especially during the current discussions about the future of Nordic Combined, I would like to do my part for a successful perspective for our athletes."

World Cup Sports Director Horst Hüttel

"In our opinion, Eric Frenzel has everything he needs to grow into his new role as a coach. He has the personality, experience and knowledge to excel in this new role. The solution with two experienced trainers in form of Kai Bracht and Heinz Kuttin creates ideal conditions.

Irrespective of this, we absolutely wanted to keep Hermann Weinbuch in the system so that his philosophy and ideas will continue to have an effect.

I am confident that with the new personnel orientation we will be able to set new impulses and thus create optimal conditions for further positive development in the Nordic Combined discipline, from the base to the Olympic team.”

New assistant coach in the women's team

In the women's national team led by Florian Aichinger, Tim Kopp takes over the position of assistant coach from Matthias Olvermann. Kopp was most recently in charge of the LG2b in the Nordic combined of the DSV as head trainer.

Source: German Ski Federation