Strong start for Robert Johansson in Zakopane
Feb 12, 2021·Ski Jumping
Robert Johansson won the qualification for this weekend's first competition in Zakopane (POL) on Friday evening. The 30-year-old posted the longest jump of the day with 137 m (134.0 points) and took the win ahead of his teammate Halvor Egner Granerud (133 m; 127.6 points) and Austria's Stefan Kraft (130.5 m; 127.0 points).
With his win today, Johansson once again presented himself in strong shape, after he could claim a World Cup win in Lahti recently and was also the best in the prologue in Klingenthal last weekend. Robert Johansson can now be considered the main opponent of high-flyer Granerud in tomorrow's competition.
"This was a good start of the weekend, it's nice to be back here in Zakopane, in this beautiful winter weather. Today's jump was my best this winter in Zakopane and I'm looking forward to the competitions here. Hopefully, I'll continue jumping on this level", Johansson said after his jump.
Overall World Cup leader Halvor Egner Granerud did a lot better than four weeks ago on this hill when he finished only 23rd, his by far worst result this season. Stefan Kraft was finally able to achieve a top result again in third today, the Austrian seems to be getting in top shape right on time for the World Championships. The same applies to 4-time Olympic champion Simon Ammann, who came in on the strong fourth place.
Ammann was followed by three Poles: Andrzej Stekala, Kamil Stoch, and Klemens Muranka. Naoki Nakamura and Yukiya Sato of Japan were eighth and ninth.
For the German team, it was a successful day because all the athletes were able to qualify, but Martin Hamann and Pius Paschke were their best in 18th and 19th, a result that's not really a reason to celebrate. Japan's Daiki Ito could not jump today due to back problems, he will not be competing this weekend.
Originally it was planned that a World Cup is held in Beijing this weekend as the final test for the Olympic Games in China 2022, but because the Covid-19 pandemic makes long trips difficult, the competitions in Asia were canceled and Zakopane is hosting the World Cup instead.
The first of two competitions this weekend starts on Saturday at 4 pm CET.
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