JWSC: Gold medal for Paul Walcher
Feb 12, 2024·Nordic Combined
Paul Walcher won the gold medal in the men’s Individual Gundersen competition at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Planica (SLO).
The Austrian was already in the lead after the Ski Jumping round on Planicas HS 102.
In rainy conditions Walcher reached 92.5 meters and took the lead with 127.2 points. He was therefore the first one to start into the 10 km cross-country race in the afternoon.
Rank 2 after jumping went to Andreas Gfrerer, who landed at 92 meters (116.7 pts) and went into the course 42 seconds after his Austrian team mate.
Norwegian Jens Dahlseide Kvamme (88 mts, 115.4 pts) placed third, 47 seconds behind the leader.
The furthest distance of the day was reached with 94 meters by German Jonathan Graebert (114.9 pts, +49 sec) and Norwegian Eidar Johan Stroem (107.1 pts, +1:20 min) on ranks 5 and 14.
Walcher ran a lonely race at the top, keeping his competitors at a safe distance. His team colleague Gfrerer couldn’t defend his position and fell back, while Tristan Sommerfeldt, who placed 10th after jumping, showed another incredible cross-country performance. The German, who ended up with the fastest skiing time, left the other pursuers behind and slowly started to also close the gap to Walcher at the front.
Despite the big effort, he wasn’t able to catch the Austrian, who won the gold medal, with a 16.8 second lead over Sommerfeldt who secured silver.
Kvamme (+19.5 sec) defended his third place and took bronze.
SJ Results: JWSC - IG HS102/10km, Men - 9.2.24, Planica
Official Results: JWSC - IG HS102/10km, Men - 9.2.24, Planica
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