Thomas Diethart of Austria has joined the coaching staff at the German Ski Association ©Getty Images

Olympic ski jumping silver medallist and former Four Hills champion Thomas Diethart of Austria has joined the coaching staff at the German Ski Association.

The 28-year-old, part of the Austrian squad which claimed silver in the team large hill competition at Sochi 2014, will work with young German ski jumpers in his new role.

Diethart, who retired in April 2018 following a string of serious falls, said he was relishing the chance to coach some of Germany's best young talent.

"I'm looking forward to supporting young guys on their way to the top with my know-how," Diethart told German free-to-air television channel Sport1.

The Austrian won a silver medal in the team event at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images
The Austrian won a silver medal in the team event at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images

Diethart, winner of the Four Hills tournament in the 2013-2014 campaign, will work alongside coaches Christoph Klumpp, Andy Jacob and Christian Hofreiter.

Karl Geiger, second in the overall Ski Jumping World Cup standings last season, heads a team of nine athletes selected in the top training group for the German men's team.

Three-time world champion Katharina Althaus has been chosen in the top women's training group.

Althaus is joined by the likes of Carina Vogt, gold medallist in the individual women's event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.