Geiger worries about the start of the tour: The high-flyer is running out of time

Saturday 26 December 2020

Geiger worries about the start of the tour
Time is running out for the high-flyer

First he becomes ski flying world champion, then dad: Things couldn't go better for Karl Geiger in December – until his positive corona test. Now the 27-year-old has to hope that he will be able to compete in the Four Hills Tournament. In any case, the association is making an exception for him.

The dream of winning the Four Hills Tournament becomes a test of nerves for Karl Geiger even before the first jump. The ski flying world champion, who tested positive for the corona virus on December 16, is still waiting for official approval. The German Ski Association has the 27-year-old still a place in the line-up, Geiger's nomination will take place "after the quarantine period and medical check-up" – but time is running out. Can Geiger until qualification for the first jumping on Monday (4.30 p.m. / ZDF and Eurosport) do not present a negative test, it was the dream of a tour victory.

"Of course we hope that Karl Geiger can strengthen our team again during the tour. Karl has been symptom-free since the positive test. He is highly motivated and kept fit and trained during the quarantine," said national coach Stefan Horngacher, who was responsible for the start in Oberstdorf and the New Year's competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, only eleven of the twelve possible athletes were nominated. Horngacher's goal is to "jump for victory" and, if possible, to end the DSV losing streak since Sven Hannawald's triumph in 2001/02. A fit violinist as well as the two-time season winner Markus Eisenbichler can be expected to make a big hit. The tour triumph should be "equated with an Olympic or World Cup victory", said three-time world champion Eisenbichler and concluded: "I hope I can win it." To what extent Geiger was able to preserve its shape is an exciting question.

Three Olympic champions there

To what extent Geiger was able to preserve its shape is an exciting question. The new father of the family had tested positive after returning from the Flight World Championships in Planica and went into domestic isolation. He has not been able to train on the hill since then and missed the final training courses in Oberstdorf just before Christmas. The German tour team will meet there on Sunday.

There are three Olympic champions in Richard Freitag, Severin Freund and Andreas Wellinger – however, every single one of this trio had to struggle with their own form in the still young season. A lot is at stake for these highly decorated athletes: From the third competition in Innsbruck (January 3), Horngacher will have to reduce his line-up from twelve to six jumpers.

Geiger would in no case have to do without the tour completely. Horngacher had already made it clear before Christmas that it would "definitely" be possible to start a tour "for Innsbruck and Bischofshofen. Then without focusing on the overall standings, but these are also World Cups."

"A shock at first"

As if there weren't enough turbulent weeks for Karl Geiger: On December 12th he became world ski flying champion in Planica and celebrated the greatest success of his career. Two days later, his wife Franziska, whom he married in September, gave birth to their first child, Luisa. Geiger's world was completely pink.

Again just two days later, a routine corona test was positive. The result was "initially a shock" for the team, said Horngacher: "We were perplexed and had to collect ourselves, but then we dealt with the matter very professionally, Karl is also a full professional." While his teammates were fine-tuning themselves on the Oberstdorfer Schanze, Geiger waited in the quarantine of things, had to keep himself physically fit with light strength training and with the hope of a quick comeback.