Andreas Wellinger could hardly believe his luck. “I am extremely happy and relieved,” said Germany’s best ski jumper. On Saturday, when the weather around the large hill in Bad Mitterndorf was once again crazy, the Olympic champion in the supreme discipline of ski flying showed his best flight at exactly the moment when it counted. 229 meters – it took a long time until Wellinger had ground under his skis again.
When the Norwegian Johann Andre Forfang landed a minute later after 217 meters, it was clear: the 28-year-old German was already assured of bronze at the Ski Flying World Championships at that moment. In the mixed zone of the gigantic ski jumping facility, Horst Hüttel raised his right hand in the air for the first time. The sports director of the German Ski Association knew: the desired individual medal was secured.
Start postponed to 4 p.m
Wellinger went into the third and decisive competition in fourth place. Actually, at the Ski Flying World Championships, four flights on two days of competition are used for the overall ranking. But strong winds prevented the fourth round from taking place. The jury repeatedly postponed the start, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., by a quarter of an hour – until 4 p.m.
That was the deadline. Later flights would no longer have been possible because there are no floodlights at the ski jump on Kulm. Seen in the light of things, Wellinger had a fantastic comeback and was able to improve from fourth place to second thanks to the third and decisive flight. Second place at the Ski Flying World Championships – what an unexpected happy ending.
“Until an hour ago, I could have gone home in third place with nothing and 0.5 points behind,” Wellinger told the FAZ, knowing full well that it was a matter of urgency and that only the two flights from Friday would have made it into the overall ranking can flow in. So it was good that the jury showed tact, the weather cooperated and the wind died down at the last possible moment – and the 18,500 spectators also waited patiently.
The reward for the Austrian ski flying fans: their idol Stefan Kraft has finally won the longed-for individual medal at a ski flying world championship. The medal set of the best ski jumper in the world is now complete. At 228 meters, Kraft jumped one meter less than Wellinger, but thanks to his two Friday flights he had a lead that in the end was only 2.2 points. That’s the equivalent of 1.83 meters. A touch of nothing in ski flying.
For the first time a medal at the World Aviation Championships: Andreas Wellinger : Image: AP
The 30-year-old Kraft was almost overwhelmed that he had still managed to fly away from the Slovenian Timi Zajc, who was in the lead. Zajc lost his world title, which was within reach, with a flight of just 209.5 meters and came third. “That was one of the most beautiful things I was able to experience,” said an emotional Kraft. The man from Pongau was second after two flights on Friday.
For a long time it looked as if there would be no flying on Saturday. But he left two hours late. “Picking up silver without emotion wouldn’t have been cool,” said Kraft. “I celebrated my first home win here at the Kulm and won gold here. Unbelievable.” And Wellinger took silver. “Today was by far my best flight,” said the Olympic champion. “This is what ski flying must feel like.”
Ralf Weitbrecht, Bad Mitterndorf Published/Updated: Ralf Weitbrecht, Bischofshofen Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 Ralf Weitbrecht Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
Stephan Leyhe, who came tenth as the second best German – Karl Geiger was 19th, Pius Paschke 23rd – was confident before the team competition on Sunday (2 p.m. on ZDF), thanks in part to Wellinger’s silver. “Something big can develop.”
