Coline Mattel and Daniela Iraschko share the first place in Sochi. Sara Takanashi third.
The second World Cup in Sochi today can just be described by three facts: Nice jumps, nice weather and an exceptional result. In the end the competition did not have one but two winners, as Austria’s Daniela Iraschko and France’s Coline Mattel both scored 231.1 points in total and so shared the first place. Mattel jumped 98.5 and 92.0 meters and got higher style points, while Iraschko jumped 96.5 and 94.5 meters and got decently more points added as wind compensation. This shared victory is the first World Cup win for Mattel and the third for Iraschko. Both athletes were very happy that they were able to win on the hill, where the 2014 Olympics will be held. “It feels really good to have won on the 2014 Olympic hill, it is awesome! Today I showed two good jumps but the landing was not perfect. I like Sochi, this will be the new empire of Russian winter sports!” said Irascho. Mattel said: “I am the fifth lady ski jumper who wins a World Cup event, I am amazed about that. I never expected to be on the top of the podium today, I am very happy. Here in Sochi everything was perfect and I am already looking forward to the Olympic Games!”
Japan’s Sara Takanashi, who was in the lead after the first round with a jump of 97.0 meters, missed the chance to win by jumping 91.5 meters in the second and so eventually came third. “I am very satisfied with my jumps here in Sochi. However, my second jump was average today, so I am very happy that I managed to achieve that place on the podium. In the upcoming months I will work hard, my goal is to come back to Sochi in 2014 and to win the Olympic Gold medal”, she said.
On the fourth place came Austrias’s Jacqueline Seifriedsberger with a pair of jumps of 98.5 and 95.0 meters ahead of Germany’s Carina Vogt (96.5 and 92.0 m). Remarkable was the performance of the team from the United states. Three of their jumpers came among the best nine today. Best of them was Lindsey Van, who jumped from place 21 to six in the second round (90.5 and 97.0 m).
In the overall World Cup Takanashi has now 240 points and is ahead of Sarah Hendrickson, who came seventh today and has 216 points. Third is Iraschko with 190 points. In the Nations Cup Japan is now ahead of the United States and Norway.
RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
Results after the 1st round »
Final results of the competition »
Current overall World Cup standings »
Current Nations Cup standings »