WSC: Riiber claims 3rd Normal Hill gold in a row
Feb 25, 2023·Nordic Combined
Jarl Magnus Riiber crowned himself World Champion at the Normal Hill competition in Planica (SLO) today.
At the men’s first FIS Nordic World Ski Championship competition 2023, the defending World Champion was already in the lead after the Ski Jumping competition on HS 102 this morning.
In bright sunshine and summerly temperatures, the Norwegian reached 103.5 meters and collected a total of 131.1 points, leading by just 0.1 points.
Rank 2 after jumping went to Ryota Yamamoto from Japan with also 103.5 meters and 131 points. Therefore, they both started into the 10 km race together in the afternoon.
Germany’s Julian Schmid jumped the furthest distance of the day with 104 meters placed third, 25 seconds behind the leaders.
Franz-Josef Rehrl from Austria (100 m, 124.7 pts) went into the race 26 seconds behind.
With a total of eight athletes starting the race within the first minute, a tight fight for the podium could be expected.
Yamamoto managed to keep up with Riiber in the first lap, but then had to give up, allowing the Norwegian to extend his lead to 11 seconds after 2.5km.
Meanwhile, Schmid and Rehrl rushed up from behind and caught up with Yamamoto after 3.7 km, so that the chasing group increased to three athletes.
The Japanese showed a good race and managed to keep up with the two strong skiers until the last lap.
Meanwhile, Riiber extended his lead to 35.7 seconds after 5km, so that he remained uncatchable at the top until the end.
After 8.7 km Yamamoto couldn’t keep up with the high speed anymore and fell back, while Rehrl (+29.1 sec) and Schmid (+29.7 sec) fought an exciting duel on the last climb.
The strong German sprinted past the Austrian and managed to tear a small gap, which he defended into the stadium.
Meanwhile, Riiber confidently ran towards his 3rd World Championship Normal Hill title and secured the gold medal in front of numerous, cheering fans.
Schmid took silver 19.4sec behind while Rehrl (+21 sec) secured the bronze medal for Austria.
Ski Jumping Results: WSC, Individual NH/10km, Men, Planica, 25.2.23
Overall Results: WSC, Individual NH/10km, Men, Planica, 25.2.23
