Unstoppable Paschke clinches World Cup triumph in Engelberg
Meet Pius Paschke, the 34-year-old ski jumping sensation hailing from Kiefersfelden. While he's already a seasoned veteran in the sport, his first-ever World Cup victory in Engelberg occurred at an unexpected age of 33.
This history-making event marked three consecutive German victories in a row, with Paschke knocking Michael Bodner and Richard Freitag off their thrones from previous seasons. The 33-year-old soared to the top in central Switzerland, outperforming the likes of Olympic champion Marius Lindvik from Norway and Austrian powerhouse Stefan Kraft.
Paschke's triumph landed him as the oldest debutant winner in World Cup history and Germany's oldest individual competition champion. This incredible achievement had last been achieved by the German eagles in the 2017/18 winter season, where Freitag and Wellinger secured two individual victories each[2].
What made this victory even more extraordinary was Paschke's impressive performance in the first competition of the traditional Four Hills Tournament (December 29 to January 6). He leaped twice to a massive 135.0 meters, propelling him from 6th place to the front. With a score of 316.8 points, he narrowly beat Lindvik (315.1) and Kraft (314.1) to the finish line.
Prior to his victory in Engelberg, Paschke had come this close to the podium at the season's kickoff in Finland, where he came in second place. His consistent performances in each of the seven competitions this season, with at least an eighth place finish, only added to the excitement and anticipation surrounding his unforgettable victory[3].
However, not everyone shone under the spotlight in Engelberg. Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger struggled in the difficult conditions and dropped from first place in the first round to a disappointing 12th place. Karl Geiger, who had celebrated two victories in Engelberg earlier this season, was unable to follow up on his success with a mere 20th place finish[3].
Geiger's clubmate Philipp Raimund initially impressed with a commanding lead in the first round, but a rule violation led to his disqualification and a missed opportunity to secure a top-four finish.
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This year has been full of surprises and triumphs for Pius Paschke, whose World Cup success in Engelberg is just the start of an exciting 2023/24 season. With his newfound confidence and consistent performance, Paschke has emerged as a strong contender in the upcoming Four Hills Tournament, keeping the German victories flowing through to January 6.
Sources:
[2]: [3]:
