Olympic stars ready to fly on return to World Cup circuit

After a few days of well-earned rest following the thrilling Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the world’s best ski jumpers will spring back into World Cup action this weekend. The race for the Crystal Globe resumes with two rounds of Ski Flying in Kulm (AUT), where Domen Prevc (SLO) will hope to resume his dominant season fresh from his double Olympic gold in Predazzo.

With ten World Cups to go, Prevc has an almost unassailable lead in the overall standings thanks to his 17 podiums so far this season, including 11 wins. He could even claim his first overall Crystal Globe in Kulm on Sunday if results go his way to round off a phenomenal 12 months. As well as the Large Hill and Mixed Team Olympic golds, the Slovenian also already holds the World, Flying World and Four Hills titles.

Prevc also holds the world record of 245m set on his home hill of Planica last year, but could Kulm provide an opportunity to equal or even break it? The current record on the Austrian hill is 244m, set by none other than Domen’s brother Peter back in 2016.

Hoping to stop him this weekend will be the two athletes closest to him in the standings, the Japanese pair of Ryoyu Kobayashi and Ren Nikaido. Already the reigning Ski Flying Worlds Team champions, both enjoyed medal success at the Olympics with bronze in the Mixed Team. Nikaido also achieved the rare feat of winning three medals at the same Games, picking up Normal Hill silver and Large Hill bronze.

Prevc’s teammate Anze Lanisek (SLO) will also be aiming to cement his place in the top five of the overall standings following a rollercoaster of a Games in Milano Cortina. While he celebrated Olympic gold alongside Prevc in the Mixed Team event, he finished 26th and 30th in the two individual races.

“The Olympic Games were a mix of good days and challenging ones. Ups and downs, happiness and sorrow, winning and losing,” he said.

“But overall, I am satisfied. I look forward to facing new challenges and fulfilling more dreams in the future.”

Hosts Austria will be aiming for a strong showing, especially after claiming Men’s Super Team gold at Milano Cortina 2026. But one half of that Olympic title-winning team won’t be competing in Kulm. Jan Hoerl, who currently sits seventh in the overall standings, will miss both Flying World Cups with a back injury.

Stephan Embacher, Manuel Fettner and Stefan Kraft, who alongside Hoerl won team silver at January’s Ski Flying Worlds, are all in the line-up on home snow. Austria can become the first nation to reach 300 wins in men’s individual World Cup events in Kulm. They currently have 299, following Daniel Tschofenig's win in Bischofshofen last month.

Milano Cortina 2026 Normal Hill Champion Philipp Raimund (GER) is also back in action as he chases his first-ever World Cup win.