SKI JUMPING, WORLD SKI FLYING CHAMPIONSHIPS. After the victories at the Olympic Games, the Nordic Tournament and the overall World Cup Simon Ammann also won at the skiflying World Championships. Under great conditions and sunshine the Swiss captured the title with 935.8 points and celebrated his first victory in skiflying.

"It feels great to be a skiflying World Champion. After Oslo I felt mentally tired, but my body was still on fire. It takes a lot of energy to fly here, because Planica is still Planica even with the new profile. I was on the way to the record, but I would have maybe needed the wind of Gregor, Robert Kranjec or Antonin Hajek. I was already joking that I might take the bib of a forejumper tomorrow and get two gates more and then: new world record", said Ammann.

Ahead of 35 000 enthusiastic fans, who illuminated the world championships in Slovenia, Gregor Schlierenzauer won Silver with two great flights on the second day and 910.3 points. Norwegian Anders Jacobsen took the bronze medal from Adam Malysz in the final round with a jump on 227.5 m. So Malysz, who was second before the last jump, finished only fourth, 0.4 points behind Jacobsen.

It was a very nice competition and I’m very satisfied with my performance and the second place. This year the conditions at the hill are very good around 240 m. So with a longer inrun and good wind 240 m or more shall be no problem", told Schlierenzauer. And Jacobsen was especially happy about the many fans from Norway in Slovenia. "Planica seems to be the second capitol of Norway. The atmosphere is great here."

Kranjec best of the hosts as fifth

Robert Kranjec was the best of the host nation. The athlete known to be a strong skiflyer who won at the Kulm finished fifth, but clearly missed the medal.

Once again Austria had the strongest team and are now the top favorites for the team competition. Wolfgang Loitzl was sixth and showed one of the best skiflying competitions of his career. Thomas Morgenstern (7th) and Martin Koch (10th) are reliable anyway in skiflying and newcomer David Zauner established himself in the world class as 13th. The former nordic combined skier jumped dangerously close to the board. The audience's breath caught, but Zauner landed in the new, broader landing area. 

Ammann with longest jump - closely followd by Hajek

Antonin Hajek set a highlight with his jump on 236 m. Ammann landed on 236.5 m in his final jump and beat the Czech who was still limping at the hill last year after his car accident.

The German team with Michael Uhrmann, Martin Schmitt, Michael Neumayer and Richard Freitag finished between the 19th and 26th place.

It was also a disappointing competition for the Finns. Hsrri Olli was their best as eleventh. Janne Ahonen ended his comeback season as 27th. "I don't want to take part in the team competition with this form", he said. Olli Muotka will get his place on the team.

FISskijumping.com
20.03.2010 12:37