Olympic ski jumping champion Philipp Raimund becomes Sergeant: Honored in the Airbus A400M

Philipp Raimund, 25, surprised everyone when he won gold in ski jumping at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Games in February. This was his first career World Cup victory. After a six-week training program in Hannover, the sports soldier has now been promoted to the rank of sergeant. Learning for the written exams was his biggest challenge due to his seven-year gap from school.

During the training, he studied subjects like military order and command law, along with weapon training on P8 and G36, including a three-day shooting course. Raimund passed three written exams to earn his promotion. The promotion ceremony took place in the air, aboard a military transport aircraft Airbus A 400M, which was a special experience for him.

Raimund feels most comfortable in the air, contrary to the assumption that an Olympic gold medalist receives special treatment. There is no gold bonus in the Bundeswehr, as everyone is treated with equal respect. The Bundeswehr has been a crucial supporter of Raimund’s career, providing a secure foundation for him to focus on his sport. The discipline and camaraderie he learned in the military played a significant role in his Olympic success.

For Bundeswehr sports personnel like Raimund, the possibility of switching from skiing to using weapons in defense is a consideration amid the current turbulent times. Raimund hopes to never experience such a scenario in reality.