Azerbaijan's first and currently only ski jumper, Zahir Jafarov, has revealed that representing his homeland was a dream he had cherished since childhood.
Born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, to an Azerbaijani family, the athlete began competing under the Azerbaijani flag last year and is now determined to establish himself on the international stage.
In an interview with İdman.Biz, Jafarov spoke about the extraordinary challenges of ski jumping, the fear athletes experience before taking off and the importance of mental strength in a sport that demands both courage and technical precision.
The athlete admitted that even experienced ski jumpers never completely overcome their fear of launching themselves from a towering ramp.
"Someone once told me that only fools are not afraid, and I completely agree. The fear is still there, but it fades into the background. You simply stop thinking about it, especially during competitions," he explained.
Jafarov recalled that his introduction to the sport came at the age of eight or nine, when a coach visited his school and invited children to attend evening sports activities. He and his older brother eventually discovered that the coach specialized in ski jumping and decided to give it a try.
However, his ambitions soon extended beyond sporting success.
"I wanted to represent Azerbaijan when I was just 11 years old. My older brother and I shared the same dream from childhood – to compete under the Azerbaijani flag," Jafarov said.
Despite repeated attempts to establish contacts and make that dream a reality, the brothers initially received no positive response.
Everything changed last year when Jafarov was approached about representing Azerbaijan with the aim of competing at the Olympic Games.
"It was as if my unfulfilled childhood dream had come back to life. That desire had never disappeared. When I was told I could finally represent Azerbaijan, I was incredibly happy," he recalled.
The athlete also highlighted the challenges of developing ski jumping in Azerbaijan, where the necessary infrastructure does not yet exist.
According to Jafarov, building Olympic-standard facilities would require substantial investment, but smaller ski jumps could provide an affordable starting point for introducing children to the sport.
"I would really like to see at least small ski jumps built for children in Azerbaijan. We don't necessarily need Olympic-level K-90 or K-120 facilities. K-15, K-30 and K-50 jumps would be enough to attract young athletes and help them develop," he explained.
Jafarov believes the sport offers benefits extending far beyond physical fitness, helping young athletes develop independence, determination and emotional control.
"You learn to overcome yourself, your fears and your strongest emotions. You understand that if you don't take a step forward yourself, nobody will do it for you," he said.
Discussing his achievements, Jafarov identified earning the points needed to reach the FIS Continental Cup level as his most significant accomplishment so far.
"I consider this an important achievement for both myself and my country. It shows the results of our work and the opportunities ahead of us. And this is certainly not the limit," he emphasized.
Looking ahead, the Azerbaijani ski jumper has set his sights on the 2027 World Championships in Falun, Sweden.
"I understand how important this competition is for my country. Taking part would mean a great deal to both me and Azerbaijan," Jafarov concluded.
