The German ski jumpers have rehabilitated after the weak performance in the previous week in Bischofshofen. They finished on the podium in a team competition in the Polish winter sports Mecca of Zakopane – in front of an unusual backdrop.
The German ski jumpers flew onto the podium in the last team competition before the Olympics and made amends for the poor performance in Bischofshofen last week. In Zakopane, Poland, the DSV-Adler around Karl Geiger and Markus Eisenbichler only had to admit defeat to Slovenia.
“It was a very good team effort. We all pulled together,” said Geiger on the ZDF microphone after the jump. His buddy Eisenbichler added: “We are happy that we finished second.” Even if he described the competition as “sometimes a bit dubious” because of changing diapers.
The Polish fans made a good atmosphere in Zakopane. (Credit: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Reuters)
Great vibes in Zakopane
Almost three weeks before the start of the Winter Games in Beijing (February 4th to 20th), the German quartet was 67 meters behind the surprisingly superior Slovenians (1101.7) with 1034.7 points. Compared to the last competitions, there were spectators in the stadium again. A good 9,000 fans ensured the best atmosphere in the Polish winter sports Mecca.
In the last lap, Geiger narrowly overtook the Japanese for 4-Hills-Tournament winner Ryoyu Kobayashi (1034.1 points). Six days earlier, the German selection in Bischofshofen had only finished sixth due to Geiger’s fall.
In addition to Geiger, who shone with 135.5 and 137.0 m, Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf) in particular showed a strong performance with 126.0 and the day’s best distance of 141.5 m in the second round. Stephan Leyhe (Willingen/129.5+117.0) and Severin Freund (Rastbüchl/121.5+128.5) each dropped after a weak jump.
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