Prevc wins gold, Japan triumphs in team competition

The Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf started with Domen Prevc as the clear favorite. The Slovenian high-flyer impressively fulfilled this role on the Heini Klopfer ski flying hill and, was crowned world champion in ski flying for the first time - the highlight of a memorable World Championship weekend in the German Allgäu region.

Prevc had already set the course for gold after the first day of competition. With jumps of 204 and 224.5 meters, the top favorite took a commanding lead after two of a total of four rounds. 332.2 points put him in first place at the halfway point, ahead of Japan's Ren Nikaido (230.5 and 224.5 m) and Norway's Marius Lindvik (226.5 and 212 m). Unlike in classic title competitions, the world champion in ski flying is determined over four rounds, a format that played into Prevc's hands.

On the second day of competition, the Slovenian left no room for doubt. With jumps of 239 and 222.5 meters, he further extended his lead and secured the gold medal with a total of 905.4 points. Lindvik improved from bronze to silver (221 and 231.5 m / 845.9 points), while Nikaido won bronze after solid jumps of 221.5 and 220 meters. Prevc underlined his exceptional status in the third round: despite a reduction of four starting gates, he sailed to 232 meters. He ultimately triumphed in the final with a 59.5-point lead.

The home World Championships were disappointing for the German ski jumpers. Two weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics, the team led by national coach Stefan Horngacher recorded its worst individual result at a Ski Flying World Championships in 16 years. Karl Geiger slipped to 17th place after short flights on Saturday, while Philipp Raimund was the best DSV jumper in 13th place. Austria also had to bury its medal hopes: Jan Hörl confirmed his strong form, but remained in an unfortunate fourth place after four rounds. Hopeful Stephan Embacher improved to fifth place in the final.

To the individual results.

At the end of the championships, the team competition provided high tension and a real curiosity. Japan secured the gold medal (1569.6 points) after a thrilling duel with Austria, silver went to the ÖSV quartet, and bronze to Norway. The competition was overshadowed by a rare scene: one of Domen Prevc's skis slipped uncontrollably down the inrun behind the start bar, which is why the newly crowned individual world champion was not allowed to start in the first round. Slovenia still finished sixth in the end and is tied with Switzerland on points.

Germany also failed to win a medal in the team event and had to settle for fourth place in front of 10,500 spectators. For the first time in 16 years, the DSV team returned from a Ski Flying World Championship without a medal. The Swiss Olympic duel between Simon Ammann and Felix Trunz also provided excitement: Partly because Ammann landed after only 160.5 meters in the final, significantly shorter than Trunz, the Swiss only managed sixth place, behind the Finns, whose final jumper Antti Aalto exceeded the 200-meter mark twice.

To the team results.

After the spectacular World Championship weekend in Oberstdorf, all eyes are now looking ahead: the next World Cup is already coming up this weekend in Willingen, kicking off with a mixed competition and the last individual jumps before the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.