In a dramatic final of the Olympic ski jumping, Katharina Althaus is only missing a little bit of gold. She celebrates herself – but an expert finds clear words.
The jubilation was worthy of an Olympic champion. Katharina Althaus jumped onto the podium with verve and stretched her fists into the night sky over Zhangjiakou. The only problem: After the Olympic ski jumping competition, she did not climb the winner’s podium, but the podium to the right. Silver instead of Olympic victory. A result that also caused discussions – and ex-DSV-Adler Sven Hannawald outraged.
In the end, the German was only the equivalent of 110 centimeters from the Slovenian Ursa Bogataj – and from her big dream. “At first I was a bit annoyed because my jump wasn’t that good. But then I was happy,” Althaus described her emotional world and added to clarify: “I’m super proud and super happy.”
Katharina Althaus: When she climbed the podium, there was still a cheer for silver. (Source: GEPA Pictures/imago images)
Shortly after the aforementioned jump to 94 meters, the 25-year-old from SC Oberstdorf clenched her fists for a brief moment, but then immediately realized how close it could be. In joyful anticipation of the Olympic victory, the teammates rushed towards them and hugged the girl from the Allgäu. When the result then flickered on the scoreboard, Althaus was briefly overwhelmed by her feelings: she knelt down, head in hands, close to tears.
-14 degrees and changing winds
But the Allgäu native, who was almost always in a good mood, recovered and congratulated the victorious competitor. “I was angry and happy at the same time. In the end I’m just happy with silver. That’s for my family and my friend, without them I wouldn’t be here,” Althaus explained.
Halfway through the competition on the brand-new Olympic ski jump about 200 kilometers north of Beijing, everything looked as if Althaus would live up to her role as favourite. After the Slovenian Bogataj had made an incredible leap of 108 meters, the German star jumper countered with 105.5 meters and brilliant postural grades – which meant first place after the first round.
Katharina Althaus: The German jumper just missed the gold medal. (Source: Xinhua/imago images)
Hannawald criticizes the jury
The fact that the second jump was almost 20 meters shorter also had to do with difficult external conditions. The -14 degrees outside temperature played a subordinate role. Rather, strong, often changing winds – like a good two hours earlier at the competition in the biathlon stadium right next door – made things difficult for the athletes.
Althaus was particularly unfavorable. “You should have waited for better conditions,” criticized ARD expert Sven Hannawald the jury. “Katharina didn’t make a single mistake today”.
The 2002 Four Hills Tournament winner particularly complained that Althaus even got the green light for her last jump. The fact that the decision was made by Miran Tepes, a compatriot of the winner, did the rest. “If you don’t wait half a minute, I get sour burping,” said Hannawald clearly.
Next gold chance for Althaus on Monday
However, Althaus did not engage in this discussion. “Of course they could have waited. I didn’t have the best wind, not the best luck. But that’s just part of ski jumping,” said the silver medalist – knowing full well that the Austrian Marita Kramer, who had previously dominated the World Cup season at will, because of of a positive corona test was not at the start.
Althaus has his next chance at gold on Monday. In the mixed team competition (from 12.45 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online), the German team is one of the favourites. And who knows – maybe she will combine her jubilation with jumping onto the top step of the podium.