The Slovenian Anze Lanisek has won the qualification for the first individual decision of the ski jumpers in Planica, Slovenia. Three Germans were among the top twelve. The medal decision will be made on Saturday.
The circle of medal candidates for the world championship title on the small hill is large. What experts predicted before the World Cup was confirmed on Friday (02/24/2023). The top nine in qualifying were within ten points of each other.
Geiger underpins medal hope
Behind qualifying winner Lanisek, Stefan Kraft (Austria) and Timi Zajc (Slovenia) flew onto the qualifying podium. Karl Geiger convinced as fourth and lived up to his reputation as “small hill Karle”. With 98 meters, the 30-year-old man from the Allgäu, who traditionally excels at high points, underpinned his medal ambitions.
Andreas Wellinger was up front, but not at the top. Germany’s greatest hope for a medal sailed 97 meters and thus seventh place. The inrun was shortened directly in front of the two-time winner of the season, who “has really learned to love the little one”. Wellinger had to wait and had a little wobble in it before the jump. Nevertheless, he is always at the forefront and belongs to the large circle of favorites when hunting for gold.
Schmid good twelfth – Eisenbichler with room for improvement
Constantin Schmid, who even had to qualify against Philipp Raimund for his start, justified his nomination and impressed with a strong 98 meters. Because Schmid had two more hatches, this distance was enough for twelfth place in the end.
Only Markus Eisenbichler from the German team struggled with the small hill. After a meager training jump of 88 meters, the Bavarian improved in qualifying, but with 95 meters and 25th place he was far from the best in the world and is therefore not a medal candidate for the first individual decision. But giving up is not an option for the large hill expert. In the interview he was combative. He wants to work on his starting position and then jump relaxed. “I know the mistakes. If I avoid them, it goes a long way.”
Ski jumper Constantin Schmid from Germany in action.
Ammann – the surprise of the Quali
Simon Ammann caused a big surprise in qualifying. The 41-year-old veteran from Switzerland, who repeatedly failed to qualify in the World Cup and actually only jumps “for fun”, was the leader with a dream jump of 99 meters. Only Schmid replaced the Swiss from the place in the sun. Ammann finished the competition in 13th place.
High-flyer Raimund only spectators
Philipp Raimund, who was the only ray of hope from a German point of view at the Four Hills Tournament, only played the spectator role in the first World Cup decision. He lost the internal elimination on Thursday against Constantin Schmid.
Quali – the stage for exotics
A total of 62 athletes from 20 nations were at the start, including some exotic athletes who only know the World Cup from television. Twelve of the 62 jumpers had to give up and are only onlookers at the first medal decision of the ski jumpers on Saturday (5 p.m. in the ticker).