Austria race ahead for Gold in Mixed Team Junior World Championships

It was another thrilling day at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Lillehammer as the Nordic Combined competition ended. The Mixed Team event wrapped up the Nordic Combined competition with a thrilling race as Austria took home the gold. It was a step up from their silver in the world championships a year ago.

The junior athletes teamed up with two men and two women per team. They all started the day with one jump each on the normal hill. That was followed by a cross-country 15km relay, with the men skiing two laps (2.5km loop) and the women skiing one each.

After the jumping portion, Germany were the defending champions and held the lead. They were awarded a 0.16 second advantage. Team Germany was led by Jonathan Graebert (GER) who jumped 96.5m with a total 129.6 points. All four athletes jumped at least 85m.

Slovenia found themselves in second after the jumping portion. Teja Pavec (SLO) led the team with her jump of 97.0m and a total of 121.4 points.

France was in third after the jumps, while Austria sat within striking distance in fourth.

Austria did enough to set themselves up for a thrilling chase in the cross-country race. 

On the course, Germany held their lead after a solid first leg from Graebert. David Thuer (AUT) finished his first leg strong, and everything changed as the women took the course for the second leg.

Katharina Gruber (AUT) made a big move on the second leg to take the lead past Germany. Gruber showed her class with brilliant speed. The mixed team gold adds to her individual gold at these junior world championships earlier this week. Gruber also won a senior-level World Cup event this season.

Gruber passed it off to Eva-Maria Holzer (AUT) for the third leg, who increased the gap.

It was on the third leg where the might of the Slovenian women showed. The gold medal winners from the women’s team sprint event made a strong charge and took second during a strong third leg from Teja Pavec (SLO).

The men took back over for the final leg. Andreas Gfrerer (AUT) cruised to the finish with flag in hand at the end to clinch the win.

Felix Brieden (GER) fought back for Germany to claim silver, and it was Sverre Kumar Lundeby (NOR) who made a late charge past Slovenia to take home the bronze. The Germans were happy with the podium finish.

Norway was also proud to make the top three.

Slovenia ended in fourth. France came fifth led by a late charge from Lubin Martin (FRA), who took silver in the men’s individual.

Ukraine ended in tenth in their first-ever appearance in the mixed team event at the junior world championships.

Check out the full results from the mixed team event here.