World Cup leader Domen Prevc sublime in Sapporo once more

World champion Domen Prevc (SLO) delivered another outstanding performance in a remarkable season for the Slovenian star who completed the ‘Sapporo double’ on the final day of the latest FIS Ski Jumping World Cup contest.

However, Prevc, who picked up his eighth win of the campaign on Saturday after an impressive second round comeback, admitted an element of ‘fortune’ was crucial to his latest success.

He held a 5.2 point lead from Olympic champion and home favourite Ryoyu Kobayashi at the halfway stage, but looked unsteady in the air while in flight during his second jump.

The Slovenian recovered well to land safely and score well. Prevc was though quick to acknowledge the importance of concentrating and relaxing despite the pressure to perform he is experiencing after a stunning season.

“I mean it was tough, especially because I made a big mistake in the second round where I was a bit too aggressive and I needed to be calm,” stated Prevc after taking to the podium.

“I wasn’t able to put the real power in the right direction, so my skis came up a bit too high and I had trouble but fortunately I got lots of wind, which helped with those essential meters.

Prevc, who attained an overall score of 277.7pts, added; “It felt good today. I’m still huiman and make mistkes but fortunately still points and I’m still fortunate and appreciative

Despite strong encouragement from the passionate home crowd at the 1972 Olympic Winter Games venue, Prevc would hold off a strong second round charge from Japanese rival Kobayashi, with Daniel Tschofenig (AUT) completing the podium places.

Prevc now holds a near unassailable lead of 467 points in the overall standings, as he closes in on what would be the first Crystal Globe of his career, a landmark already achieved by his elder brother Peter Prevc (2015-2016) and sister Nika Prevc (2023/24 and 2024/25).

Manuel Fettner (AUT), who has announced his plan to retire from the sport at the end of the season, is currently enjoying one of the best periods of his career in recent years.

He became only the second man in history, aged over 40, to finish on an FIS Ski Jumping World Cup podium when placing third in Zakopane (POL) last week and secured another encouraging result, with fourth in Sapporo.

Host nation jumper Naoki Nakamura, who claimed a shock runner-up on Saturday in what was only the second World Cup podium of his career, could not replicate that achievement on Sunday, but would finish 13^th in the second contest on his home hill.

The majority of the field will now focus on the FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf (GER) from 22-25 January.

The final FIS Ski Jumping World Cup ahead of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Willingen (GER) from 30 Jan to 1 February.