First win for Gregor Deschwanden
Jul 29, 2023·Ski Jumping
Switzerland celebrates the first victory in ski jumping since 24.11.2014. The great Simon Ammann had last won for Switzerland in 2014 in Ruka (FIN). Today now the deserved victory of Gregor Deschwanden at the Grand Prix opener in Courchevel. Finally, because Deschwanden was on many experts list for a win since a very long time.
Deschwanden set the course for his victory with an excellent jump in the first round. In the final Deschwanden had to tremble again because the conditions became more and more difficult towards the end of the round: "I saw that the conditions were difficult. My second jump was actually better than the first, but it was just too difficult to fly further. And then it was a matter of waiting at the bottom until the ranking appeared on the scoreboard. I am so happy that it was enough for my first win.
I can say I am in the best shape of my life. Even though my training jumps were not so good, I felt that something changed here and there and that I am strong enough to fight for a place on the podium. And today it worked".
Deschwanden already stood on the podium in Courchevel last year. Since this year, the Swiss ski jumpers have a new head coach in Norwegian Rune Velta. Velta and Deschwanden are obviously a good match, and Deschwanden could make the leap to the absolute top of the world in the coming winter.
Behind Deschwanden, the Bulgarian Vladimir Zografski in second place was the surprise of the day. For Zografski second place means the best result of his career.
Third place went to the strong Austrian Marco Woergoetter.
Ren Nikaido Clemens Aigner and Pius Paschke finished 4th - 6th and Robert Johansson was the best Norwegian in 7th place.
Bad luck for Philipp Raimund
The German Philipp Raimund presented himself in top form in training and qualification. In the competition, however, bad luck for the medal winner of the European Games three weeks ago. After a 134.5 meter jump Raimund fell.
Fortunately, the fall was not serious, so that Raimund is back on the starting list for tomorrow's second competition in Courchevel.
The second competition in Courchevel will start on Sunday at 18:00.
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