Geiger is making a strong comeback
Althaus 150 meter flight heats up ski jumping party
2/4/2023 8:22 p.m
More than 20,000 ski jumping fans and then such a flight: Katharina Althaus succeeds in fulfilling a dream in Willingen. The men around Karl Geiger are improving, but it’s still not enough for the podium. But the trend gives hope for the upcoming World Cup.
This day belonged to Katharina Althaus. After flying to victory in front of a record-breaking crowd of more than 20,000 fans in Willingen, the 26-year-old from the Allgäu enjoyed the second part of the ski jumping day in peace and quiet as a spectator. Althaus saw Karl Geiger (5th), Philipp Raimund (9th) and Andreas Wellinger (10th) jump into the top ranks, but it wasn’t enough for the podium against the overwhelming competition for Norway’s day winner Halvor Egner Granerud. The stage belonged to Althaus that day anyway, who amazed the audience with 149.5 meters and had to wipe a few tears from her happy face after her victory.
When Granerud (149.5 and 138 meters) won the evening before the spectacle in front of Slovenian Anze Lanisek and Poland’s Dawid Kubacki, Althaus enthusiastically took photos of this unreal day for her, which was not possible in this form in 2021 and 2022 due to the corona pandemic could give. “The mood is great,” said Markus Eisenbichler, who finished 17th after winning the qualification. Returnee Geiger, who obviously benefited from the training jumps in his home town of Oberstdorf, and Olympic champion Wellinger are meanwhile continuing towards the World Championships in Planica. This was also indicated by third place in mixed on Friday, when Geiger and Wellinger showed decent performances. On Sunday, men (4 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) and women (11.45 a.m.) will each have another individual.
“It was just awesome, I’m really happy”
Althaus had already made the fans at Mühlenkopfschanze cheer with their fifth win of the season at noon. With a jump of 133 meters and still in third place after the first round, the 26-year-old secured the day’s victory with a huge jump of almost 150 meters in the second jump. “It was just awesome, I’m really happy. Everything was pretty much perfect on the second jump,” commented Althaus, who seemed happily relieved after the jump. Slovenian Ema Klinec and Japanese Sara Takanashi completed the podium.
With her victory, Althaus also gained points in the overall World Cup over the Austrian Eva Pinkelnig, who was in the lead. Pinkelnig did not get better than tenth place. “I’m happy about all the points I can collect. Every point helps me, but I look from competition to competition. The season is still long and a lot can still happen,” said Althaus, who couldn’t stop beaming and also inspired the national coach. “We’re really happy about such jumps. Katharina improved her own record,” said Maximilian Mechler, who was also “very satisfied” with the team. Selina Freitag convinced with seventh place and jumps of 132.5 and 126.5 meters. Luisa Görlich and Anna Rupprecht achieved further top 20 results for the hosts as 15th and 20th.