Daniela Iraschko won the World Championships in Oslo ahead of Elena Runggaldier and Coline Mattel.
Austria’s Daniela Iraschko won the Ladies competition at the World Championships in Oslo. After missing a medal two years ago just by a hair, she was this time able to win Gold by two almost equal jumps on 97.0 meters. Italy’s Elena Runggaldier won Silver with a pair of jumps on 97.5 and 93.5 meters and France’s Coline Mattel took the Bronze medal with jumps on 92.0 and 97.0 meters.
Despite this result looks quite normal at first glance, this competition today was totally difficult. There were very bad weather conditions in Oslo and really heavy fog was around the Holmenkollen area all day. Also changing wind influenced the competition, but the jury did a good job to make this competition as fair as possible and took several breaks when the wind was too strong. Nevertheless the conditions caused some surprises.
In spite of the bad weather, 6500 spectators made it to the “Midstubakken” K95 hill – that’s a new record for Ladies Skijumping. Among them were also the Norwegian King, Harald V., and Norway’s Prime Minister Stoltenberg. When the spectators were able to have a look through the fog from time to time, they saw a competition on a very high sporting level.
Grässler still third after first round
Iraschko and Runggaldier were on the leading positions already after the first round. By this time Germany’s Ulrike Grässler, who made a first jump on 94.0 meters, was still third. But unluckily she fell finally back to the 19th rank after only jumping 79.5 meters in the second round. Slovenia’s Eva Logar was fourth after the first round, and kept this position in the second (91.0 and 88.5 m). Bronze medallist Mattel was fifth after the first part, sixth Italy’s Evelyn Insam, who finally came eighth (94.5 and 87.5 m).
Surprisingly a lot of jumpers that are normally good for a top ten result, foundered on the difficult conditions and were already out after the first round, such as Germany’s Juliane Seyfarth, Austria’s Jacqueline Seifriedsberger and defending champion Lindsey Van (USA).
Great comeback of Vtic in second round
Highly remarkable is the performance of Slovenia’s Maja Vtic. After jumping only 88.5 meters in the first, she was able to improve from the 18th rank to the fifth by a jump on 97.9 meters in the second round. Japan’s Sara Takanashi, who was best in the official trainings and therefore treated by many as the top-favourite, jumped from eight to six in the second round (92.0 and 93.0 m).
The great support by the fans did not help the hosting nation Norway to bring an athlete to the medal ranks. Their best jumper today was Line Jahr, who came 10th (89.5 and 84.5 m). It is delightful to note, that all nations – except for China and Russia – were able to place at least one jumper in the second round.
RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
Results after the 1st round »
Final results of the competition »