A farewell, big emotions and many happy faces: the German ski jumpers convinced the last jumping of Stephan Leyhe without a podium.
The difficult times are finally behind the German ski jumpers. At the penultimate World Cup station in Lahti, it was laughed at a freshness on Saturday (March 22nd, 2025). In addition to good performances, this was also due to Stephan Leyhe, who lasted over the Bakken in a World Cup in Finland for the last time, and twice.
Leyhe qualified for the final like all five Germans started. He ended his long career as 25. Philipp Raimund missed the podium as fifth by a very tender 1.8 points. Andreas Wellinger rounded off the top result as the sixth.
The outstanding Slovenian Anze celebrated the day victory. At 131 meters he was assumed in the first round and could no longer be captured. Stefan Kraft (Austria) and Pawel Wasek (Poland) made it to the podium alongside Lanisek.
Paschke back again
The Germans jumped past the podium, but were very strong – in the first and second round. At halftime, Raimund (6th), Wellinger (7th), Paschke (9th) and Geiger (10th) were lurking. In the second round, Geiger fell out of the top ten with 118.5 meters. Paschke also lost places, but at the end of the season showed ascending form: 122 meters and 121.5 meters meant twelve in the final accounts.
Raimund and Wellinger were closest to the podium after the first round. In the end, the little bit of luck was missing for the jump on the podium. Raimund (127 meters) and Wellinger (127.5 meters) put the competition under pressure, but with the exception of Maximilian Ortner, they gave themselves no nakedness and defended their places.
Leyhes last World Cup jump
The results were one thing, the farewell is the other. Leyhe took the last time in a World Cup jumping in Lahti. The Willinger, who is officially adopted on Sunday in the half-time of the Super Team decision with a jump outside of the rating, was all about ski jumping on Sunday. The concern, “Tank the jump”was unfounded. Leyhe jumped to the final at 118.5 meters and without pressure there again to a good 115 meters.
It was a fine gesture that his children’s trainer was allowed to wave him again on his last jump. Leyhe saw it from above, shortly before his jump. The emotions came again, said Leyhe, who took the bath in the crowd after his last leap, took pictures and smiled breastfeedlessly. It was a farewell, as painted for the solid worker who jumped reliably for years, was able to celebrate a World Cup victory and was a festive part in the team for a long time.
Stephan was always a bank in the team. You could rely on him in all situations. He was always calm, always fair, always meticulously.
Leyhe will remain loyal to sport, but not as a coach. In the future he wants to study “something in the direction of architecture”. “It is a dream that I can combine architecture and sport at some point, for example when building sports facilities “said Leyhe in the “Hessenschau”. He held back the very big emotions. “That will come on Sunday “, Leyhe laughed in the sports show. The focus was on sport on Saturday. Typical Leyhe.
Hörl loses in the fight for overall victory
Jan Hörl was also full of focus. After all, the Austrian is about the overall victory, but Hörl experienced a debacle in the first round. In difficult conditions and with little start, he ended up at 112.5 meters and was lucky that it was just enough for the second round. There Hörl started a famous chase with 128.5 meters, made it to the 15th place and can still have theoretical hopes. However, his teammate Daniel Tschofenig, who became seventh in Lahti, holds the best cards.