First World Cup victory for Slovenian Ursa Bogataj
Feb 26, 2022·Ski Jumping
The 2022 Olympic Champion Ursa Bogataj crowned herself with her first World Cup victory with jumps of 93m and 92m. Teammate Nika Kriznar came second and young Austrian Lisa Eder came third.
The Slovenian 26-year-old was many times on the podium this season and has proven her great skills by winning the overall title of the last Summer Grand Prix and last Olympics in China. This first World Cup win, was definitely the one she was missing. Delighted with 249,7 points, Bogataj explained :“Few years ago I could not have imagined all this happening to me, I am just so happy”
Also 2022 Olympic medalist, Nika Kriznar finished second with 227.7 points and declare to be very happy with her performance and even happier to share the podium with her teammate for whom this was the first WC win ever. Third place came to Austria, not to expected Marita Kramer, current World Cup leader, but Lisa Eder. Improving her first jump where she finished sixth, Eder was surprised and delighted to be for the first time on the podium for an individual competition.
Marita Kramer who missed the Olympic Games in Beijing due to a Covid-19 infection, ensured a clear victory for Austria at previous day Team Competition but finished fifth today. Austria was missing a couple of its best athletes as Daniela Iraschko-Stolz had to end the season early due to continuing knee pain after the Olympics in China. Eva Pinkelnig was tested Covid-19 positive.
Frida Westman from Sweden achieved her best result in her career so far finishing fourth and Yuki Ito is the best Japanese of the day in sixth position. Sara Takanashi was not competing this weekend.
Norwegian remained in the top 10 with Silje Opseth (7th) and Anna Odine Stroem (10th) whereas it was for the first time a top 10 ranking for Russian Sofia Tikhonova (8th) and Canadian Abigail Strate (9th)
Most top 4 nations are indeed missing athletes this weekend. Germany competed without Olympic Vice-Champion Katharina Althaus, tested positive and Juliane Seyfarth.
Slovakia participated for the first time this season with Tamara Mesikova but she did not manage to qualify.
The World Cups in Hinzenbach this week-end are also part of a new special Tournament in women's Ski Jumping: the Austrian "Alpenkrone" (Crown of the Alps). The winner will be the best ski jumper in the competitions in Ramsau (December 17) and Hinzenbach (February 26 and 27). The points are counted the same way as in the World Cup and the overall winner of this series will be rewarded with additional prize money of € 10,000.-
After this second event, Ursa Bogataj isnow taking the lead with 502.7 points, followed by Marita Kramer (469,2) and Nika Kriznar (465,7). No doubt that last competition on Sunday will be exciting.
