Maruyama caps magical World Cup weekend with third win
Nov 23, 2025·Ski Jumping)
Grand Prix champion Nozomi Maruyama (JPN) continued her stunning start to the 2025/26 FIS Ski Jumping season by completing an individual Lillehammer World Cup double.
It marked the third successive day the Maruyama had stood on top of the podium, after playing an important role in a landmark Japanese Mixed Team success on Friday, followed by her maiden individual World Cup win on Saturday.
Maruyama delivered two stunning jumps of 134m and 133m on Sunday to attain a combined total of 283.6 points and ultimately ease to victory.
Heidi Traaserud (NOR) secured the first World Cup podium of her career in second (254.8), while last season’s all-conquering Slovenian star Nica Prevc (SLO) claimed third (250.4).
Seven-time World champion and double Olympic silver medallists Katharina Schmid (GER) placed fourth, recording her best individual result since finishing second at the Villach World Cup in early January.
After tricky, changeable winds on Saturday the 67-strong field, who began the second Lillehammer World Cup qualifying round on Sunday morning in Norway, were relieved to be presented with much calmer conditions.
Regardless of the weather though, Japan’s Maruyama seems to have been able to master all challenges which have come her way early in the season and she would again top the standings in the morning qualifier.
Saturday’s runner-up Abigail Strate (CAN) was again second, but the Canadian, who claimed two victories during an equally impressive pre-World Cup Grand Prix series, struggled in the opening round on Sunday, finding herself down in 11th.
Double World champion and reigning Crystal Globe winner Nica Prevc (SLO) had placed a surprise 15th in the first Lillehammer World Cup, was much-improved 24 hours later and a jump of 128m, which scored 129.7pts, put her second at the halfway stage.
It would ensure Maruyama entered the final round with a strong lead of 16.8 points, following her unrivalled effort of 134m.
Selina Freitag (GER), last season’s overall World Cup runner-up, was again short of form, finish 21st, after placing 19th on Saturday.
Abigail Strate (CAN) was much improved in the second round though, with an impressive jump of 131m scoring her 126.9pts and ensured she would climb significantly up the standings; eventually finishing fifth.
Backing up a strong opening performance was Finland’s 17-year-old Heta Hirvonen (FIN) who would place an encouraging tenth.
Another relative youngster, 22-year-old Heidi Traaserud (NOR), had delivered a career best performance on Saturday with fifth and boosted by that display she rose further up the rankings at the halfway stage, in third.
There were few signs of nerves ahead of her second jump, one which saw her go top of the pile, with Prevc and Maruyama to follow.
The Norwegian, who was part of her nation’s Women’s Normal Hill Team gold medal-winning line-up at her home World Championships earlier this year, was soon celebrating even harder after Prevc was unable to match, or better, Traaserud’s score.
Maruyama needed just 117m to take victory and for the second day in a row, greatly surpassed the required mark with a stunning 133m effort.
FIS SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP – LILLEHAMMER (NOR) SCHEDULE
23.11.2024
14:30 – QUA Men’s LH
16:00 – WC Men’s LH
All times listed are CET.
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