Four-time Olympic ski jump champion Simon Ammann, at 42 years old, gears up for his remarkable 25th Four Hills tournament after securing a spot in the Swiss team.

Having missed last year’s tournament due to a delayed start in the season, Ammann is making a return for the 2023-24 competition commencing at Oberstdorf, Germany, this Thursday.

Ammann’s legacy includes double gold triumphs at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics alongside a singular world title. Despite his accolades, he’s yet to clinch victory in the Four Hills, having come close as a runner-up in 2009 and 2011.

This season, he’s accrued 17 World Cup points, experiencing setbacks in the second rounds of the last two events at Engelberg, Switzerland, where his best performance landed him in 24th place.

The Swiss team’s charge is led by Gregor Deschwanden, who recently secured his first career World Cup podium finish in second place. Accompanying him are jumpers Killian Peier and the budding talent Remo Imhof.

The Four Hills tournament spans until the January 6 finale in Bischofshofen, encompassing stops in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Innsbruck along the way.