Carina Vogt does it again

Carina Vogt of Germany is the old and new World Champion in Ladies Ski Jumping. The 25-year old, who achieved two World Cup victories in her career so far, won her third major title at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti (FIN) after becoming Olympic Champion in Sochi 2014 and World Champion in Falun 2015.

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Two Japanese on the podium**
Places two and three went to Yuki Ito and Sara Takanashi of Japan. Maren Lundby of Norway could not defend her lead after the first round and came in 4th. Carina Vogt improved her performance in Lahti with every jump since the first trainings on Tuesday. 98,5 meters put her in third place after the first round, chasing Takanashi and Lundby. 96,5 meters and 254,6 points gave her a two-point advantage over Yuki Ito, who came back from 4th place after the first round.

Carina Vogt said afterwards: “It was a perfect competition for me. I´ve saved my best jumps here for today. It is an overwhelming feeling. I have had two tough years. I don’t know my secret at those big occasions. I´m just trying to stay focussed. It has been a good season for me so far. Now it is a perfect one.”

Ito again 2nd
Yuki Ito, already 2nd behind Vogt at the last World Championships in Falun, brought in 97,0 and 96,5 meters and gained 252,6 points.

Ito said: “I was able to perform two good jumps and I am very happy with the result. Carina was very strong today. At the Junior World Championships my brother won a medal in the mixed competition. I want to follow him and also win a medal with the mixed team.

Sara Takanashi, the World Cup overall winner of the running season and 53 times World Cup winner, performed jumps to 98,0 and 95,0 meters. With 251,1 points she won her second medal at an individual competition at World Championships after her 2nd place in Val di Fiemme 2013.
Takanashi said: “I am very happy to have the medal. My first jump was very good, my second could have been better. So my feelings are mixed. But the medal is a very good result. My goal for the season where these World Championships. I wanted gold. With the mixed team I want to give my best and I want to show two very good jumps.”

Lundby losing the medal
Maren Lundby, who won 5 World Cup competitions this season, seemed to be the winner after her 99,5 meters in the first round and three point lead over Takanashi. 91,0 meters in the final and 247,7 points flushed her down the ranking to a 4th place. Ema Klinec was the best Slovenian on 5th place with 99,0 and 94,0 meters and 245,8 points. The German team did not only impress with Carina Vogt. Svenja Wuerth (241,7 points) and Katharina Althaus (239,0) on places 6 and 8 delivered a great team result. The Austrians where also able to place three of their athletes in the top ten.

Austrians in top ten
Jaqueline Seifriedsberger (240,9), Daniela Iraschko-Stolz (229,6) and Chiara Hoelzl (229,0) came in 7th, 9th and 10th. Irina Avvakumova, still in pain after fracturing a rib three weeks ago during a fall in Hinzenbach (AUT), secured a descent 12th place for Russia behind Japan´s Kaori Iwabuchi.

Juniors with good results
Nika Kriznar of Slovenia, with 16 years of age one of the youngest competitors, came in 13th ahead of Yuka Seto and Junior World Champion Manuela Malsiner of Italy. Taylor Henrich was best Canadian on 16th place, local hero Julia Kykkaenen came in 19th.  Lea Lemare was the best of the French team on 20th place. Sarah Hendrickson, World Champion in 2013 in Val die Fiemme, finished 23rd for the United States. Xueyao Li secured a nice victory for the Chinese team with qualifying for the final round and finishing 28th ahead of Romania´s Daniela Haralambie.