SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP. Kamil Stoch turned the stadium at the Wielka-Krokiew-Hill in Zakopane into a madhouse. The Pole celebrated his first World Cup victory under heavy snowfall and made 20 000 Polish fans happy.

Poland's Kamil Stoch reacts after winning the 21st World Cup Ski Jumping competition, in Zakopane, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

The 23-year-old jumped 123 m and 128 m for a total of 254.0 points and celebrated with the fans. What more can an athlete wish for than to win his first competition in his home town?

Fall: Malysz's dream of Gold over?

But joy and sorrow are often not far apart. The competition was overshadowed by the fall of the Polish sports icon Adam Malysz, who fell after the landing in the fresh snow and apparently twisted his knee. He stood up afterwards, but it seemed he then noticed that something is not okay with his knee. He was taken to the hospital right after his jump. There is reason to fear that he suffered a serious knee injury.

And that after the weekend started so well for Malysz with his first victory since March 2007. Now the 33-year-old might not be able to compete at the World Championships. At least Kamil Stoch filled in for him today and so Poland could celebrate two victories in Zakopane.

Hilde and Uhrmann on the podium

Tom Hilde will always have good memories of this weekend in Zakopane. The Norwegian is in a great shape and is one of the favorites for the World Championships in Oslo. With the second place he achieved his fifth podium result of the season. Germany's Michael Uhrmann finished third.

Norway's Tom Hilde soars through the air during the qualification round of the 21st World Cup Ski Jumping competition, in Zakopane, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

The last time Uhrmann was on the podium was in February 2007 in Willingen as second. Today he achieved his 14th podium result. "I jumped really well. I haven't been on the podium since my fall 2007. I could do that today and that's great. Finally I was able to show two good jumps in a competition. That's a great day for me", said Uhrmann.

The German team is getting stronger right on time for the WSC and with Uhrmann and Severin Freund, sixth today, they have to candidates for the podium. The good team result was completed by Martin Schmitt as eleventh.

Austrians stagnate

The fourth place went to Saturday's winner Simon Ammann from Switzerland, closely followed by Japanese Noriaki Kasai. Besides Hilde, also Bjoern Einar Romoeren (8th) and Anders Bardal (10th) showed good performances for Norway.

The trend doesn't seem that positive for the Austrians. Thomas Morgenstern, who was only 18th after the first round, moved up to seventh. Martin Koch finished on a good ninth place. But the development of Wolfgang Loitzl and Gregor Schlierenzauer (both 19th) is stagnating.

Famous names with problems

It was difficult today with the heavy snowfall, so some famous names were already out after the first round. Athletes like Pavel Karelin, Roman Koudelka and Johan Remen Evensen, who were already on the podium this season, could not qualify for the final. And Janne Ahonen is still not in a good shape. The Finn was only 47th.

Not a good weekend for Finland

The weekend in Zakopane was not successful at all for the Finnish team. Once again Matti Hautamaeki was their best, he finished 15th on Sunday. After the good start of the season, head coach Pekka Niemelae will not be satisfied with these results.

It also didn't go well for the Czech team. Lukas Hlava and BoreK Sedlak shared the 25th place. It was a better day for Slovenia, with Peter Prevc (12th) and Jernej Damjan (14th) two of their jumpers were within reach of the world class.

Thomas Morgenstern will probably be satisfied when he looks at the overall ranking of the World Cup. The Austrian, seventh today, is still clearly in the lead with 1384 points. Simon Ammann is second with 953 points, Andreas Kofler follows as third.

FISskijumping.com
23.01.2011 16:38