Abigail Strate and Zeng Ping aim to build on historic success as World Cup continues in Villach

Jan 04, 2026·Ski Jumping

Abigail Strate (CAN) celebrates her first World Cup win - FIS/ActionPress

As the women’s World Cup continues in Villach, Austria, on Monday, Abigail Strate (CAN) and Ping Zeng (CHN) are certainly amongst the ones hoping to build on their historic successes from New Year’s Day.

Strate, who topped the World Cup podium in Oberstdorf, Germany, on January 1, hopes she can follow-up on what she dubbed a ‘childhood dream come true’. The Canadian started the Olympic year with a bang, winning her career-first World Cup victory. The 24-year-old became the second Canadian woman to win a World Cup event, after Alexandria Loutitt, whose two victories came in Japan (Zao in 2023 and Sapporo in 2025).

On her Instagram page, Strate highlighted the importance of the result. “1x World Cup winner added to resume”, she wrote. “Gold on the first day of 2026?! Did not have that on my Jan 1st bingo card… still processing. But holy FUN! Thank you everyone for your support, near and far. I will never forget this one. Ever.”

“This has been my dream since I can remember. I didn’t know if it would ever happen, but I have always been chasing it. I frickin’ did it”, she said in interviews.

Can Zeng Ping write history once more?

Zeng Ping (CHN) celebrated her 21st birthday by finishing second in Oberstdorf, making history by becoming the first Chinese ski jumper to reach the podium in a World Cup event. Both Zeng and Strate are among the main contenders for the podium in Villach (AUT) on 5 and 6 January. Zeng can even become the first Chinese athlete to win a World Cup event in one of the four traditional FIS disciplines (Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping).

World Cup leader Nozomi Maruyama (JPN), who failed to reach the podium in Oberstdorf at the start of this year, is looking to extend her lead in the World Cup circuit and hopes to land on the podium again. Maruyama will face tough competition from Nika Prevc (SLO), who started the year by winning her third overall Two Nights Tournament title. In January 2024, Prevc won both events in Villach, and last year she second and third.

Freitag looking for first World Cup win

Other podium contenders include Selina Freitag (SLO), who claimed her first podium finishes of this season’s World Cup during the Two Nights Tour where she finished second in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and third in Oberstdorf. Freitag has collected 16 individual podium finishes in the World Cup so far, but is still chasing her first victory after 11 second places and 5 third places.

Lisa Eder (AUT) can become the first Austrian woman to win a World Cup event since 26 January 2025, when Jacqueline Seifriedsberger won in Zao (Japan). Lisa Eder (AUT) has claimed eight podium finishes in individual World Cup events, but has yet to win her first victory (1 second place, 7 third places).