Richard Freitag
A German ski jumping technician whose graceful flight and consistent power placed him at the very peak of the World Cup for a decade.
Born 1991 (age 35)·German ski jumper·Birthday: August 14·Millennials
Biography
Richard 'Richi' Freitag soared into the elite circle of German ski jumping with a style marked by technical precision and calm composure. Debuting on the World Cup circuit in 2010, he quickly established himself as a threat, known for his powerful take-offs and stable in-air form. The 2017-18 season was his masterpiece; he engaged in a season-long duel with the sport's best, ultimately finishing as the overall World Cup runner-up, a crowning achievement in a career filled with podium finishes. While an Olympic medal eluded him, his bronze at the 2018 Ski Flying World Championships underscored his bravery at the sport's most extreme discipline. Persistent back injuries eventually grounded his career in 2022, but his tenure is remembered for its quiet excellence and formidable consistency at the highest level.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Richard was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished as the runner-up in the overall 2017–18 FIS Ski Jumping World Cup standings.
- Won a bronze medal at the 2018 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf.
- Secured 12 individual World Cup victories throughout his career.
Did You Know?
His younger sister, Selina Freitag, is also a professional ski jumper.
Freitag's father, Rainer, was a ski jumper and later became his coach.
He was known for his distinctive, brightly colored helmet designs.
“My focus is always on the take-off; that's where the jump is made.”
