Skier Andreas Wellinger grits his teeth amidst the cold of Lillehammer and manages to clinch the second spot on the podium. Following his second-place finish in Kuusamo a week prior, Wellinger soared to 99.0 meters on the small Olympic hill and 92.0 meters in challenging wind conditions, securing a well-deserved victory. Austrian champion Stefan Kraft, on the other hand, remained unbeatable with impressive flights of 104.0 and 92.5 meters[3].
National coach Stefan Horngacher was thrilled with the result, proudly announcing that Wellinger, Leyhe, and Paschke had yet another podium appearance under their belts. Five-time world champion Karl Geiger barely missed out on the podium, coming in fourth place. Pius Paschke finished in sixth and Stephan Leyhe in ninth, ensuring that the DSV eagles remained a formidable force in the hills[1].
Polish athletes had a less than stellar day, struggling to maintain their usual momentum. Despite this, Poland's Pawel Wasek managed a respectable 23rd place finish, offering some hope for a resurgence in their performance[3].
Over in the women's event, World Champion Katharina Schmid battled for the podium but fell just short, earning an eighth-place finish. Despite her disappointing result, Schmid acknowledged improvements in her performance, flying 89.5 meters and 91.0 meters on her favorite hill[2]. Japan's Yuki Ito, however, soared to the top of the standings, enjoying her eight career victory.
Ski jumping fans will be excited to watch the action unfold in the neighboring large hill on Sunday. With the potential for Kraft to capture his fourth consecutive victory in a row, it promises to be an exciting spectacle.
The German team has been on a winning streak, with impressive victories in the Mixed Team World Cup and dominance in the Continental Cup in Lillehammer. Jakob Lange, one of the standout performers in the Continental Cup, clinched all three events with remarkable cross-country skiing abilities[2][3].
In the world of ski jumping, competition and excitement never seem to wane, as teams like Germany continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in this thrilling winter sport.
Sources: [1] [2] [3]
