Matěj
Švancer
Austria
·
Freeskiing
Date of birth | 26 March 2004 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Prague |
Age | 22 |
Nationality | Austria |
Career start | 2018 |
Disciplines | Freeskiing Big Air / Freeskiing Slopestyle / Freeskiing Street |
Matěj Svancer was born in Prague, Czech Republic, but he and his family spent so much time in Austria that they relocated when he was a young child. The family enjoyed both winter skiing and summer activities in Austria's Kaprun, and when the family found themselves visiting the area nearly every weekend, they decided to live there permanently.
Matěj who was aged 10 at the time, enrolled in a sports-focused school, Gymnasium Saalfelden, and was soon racing on alpine skis for Kaprun ski club.
Deciding he preferred freestyle skiing, Matěj showed great promise of future success. During his first year of freestyle, he placed in the top 10 of the European Cup and was soon offered a place on the Austrian Freeski Team.
Success as a junior
In 2019, Matěj came first in the World Rookie Fest in Livigno, Italy, and then in 2020, at 15 years old, he landed the Big Air gold medal at the Youth Games in Lausanne, Switzerland.
One year later he was crowned Junior World Champion in Slopestyle in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, before securing his first World Cup victory in the Big Air competition in Chur, Switzerland. This was quickly followed up with another win in the same event, this time in Steamboat Springs, USA.
World Cup success
As Matěj's career progressed, he continued to impress at the highest levels of competition. In 2024, he kicked off the 2024/25 season with a victory at the Big Air event in Switzerland. His impressive performances continued into the new year, where he claimed victories in both Big Air in the USA, and Slopestyle in Canada.
Despite a heel injury that kept him out of the final Slopestyle event in Tignes, France, he secured enough points to win the overall Park & Pipe World Cup title for the 2024/25 season, making history as the first Austrian to claim this prestigious honour.
More success came in 2026 when Matěj amassed a huge score of 191.25 in the Big Air final at the Winter Games in Italy, a total that was good enough for a bronze medal.
Constantly improving and racking up World Cup wins and podium places as he goes, what we've seen so far is just the beginning for Matěj and the future holds even greater potential for this talented athlete.
Matěj Švancer's career highlights:
- 2020: Gold, Big Air, Youth Games
- 2021: Junior World Champion, Slopestyle
- 2025: Park & Pipe World Cup title
- 2026: Bronze, Big Air, Winter Games