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 That was the WC '08 |
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Saturday, Feb. 23th
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Gregor Schlierenzauer becomes youngest World Champion ever!
 (Custom).JPG) Now it´s clear: Gregor Schlierenzauer is World Champion in Ski Flying 2008! In an incredible thrilling final 18 years old Schlierenzauer who completed the first jump on a ski flying hill last week beat his team mate Martin Koch with 211,5 metres in the last second as Koch gave away his chances on the victory with a jump of only 201,5 metres.
Finland´s Janne Ahonen started to catch up already in the third round and was rewarded for his ambition with the bronze medal. Bjoern Einar Romoeren who was ahead of all after the first scored day dropped back on the ungrateful forth place.
In front of a gigantic setting and an audience of 27.000 spectators the 30 participants flew into the valley and were welcomed by the fans´ loud voices and the famous laola wave. So some flyers were able to improve within the last round. Also Simon Ammann showed strong jumps today and made sure place eight in the final standings. The Finns presented a brilliant team performance, three jumpers ranked among the top six in the end. Austria´s Thomas Morgenstern had to let his compatriots pass and had to accept place seven.
Quotes
Gregor Schlierenzauer, AUT:
„I still cannot realize it all. It has always been a dream for me when I was a child. Evertything turned out alright. I want to say thank you to our team of trainers who do important work in the background. I have made some little mistakes initially. We analyzed it and I could convert some things. I had to get into the flying simply, enjoy the air and play with it. I was sure that I can do it well, and I really succeeded.“
„I have already been very satisfied in the first round, and simply enjoyed it now in the end. Martin would have deserved the victory, too, because he has been strong during the whole season. Now he was a bit weaker unfortunately but his second place is hard-earned.“
Martin Koch, AUT:
„I am very glad about my second place. It maybe sad at the beginning when you lead and then you drop back on position two but my aim was winning a medal right from the start. Today I received my first individual medal. I am totally happy abou that. But I´m also happy for Gregor excactly the way he would have been happy for me. We are no rivals but friends.“
Martin Schmitt, GER:
„I am a bit annoyed, not because of the position, but I felt that more was possible. Far jumps are a lot of fun here. 200 metres would have been possible. The course of my jump isn´t correct so far, I have already problems when I jump off. I haven´t internalized the automatisms so far that´s why I have problems. It´s realistic that we can fight for the forth place tomorrow, a medal won´t surely be within reach. But we´ll do our best. If one of the favorites (Norway, Austria, Finland) makes a mistake, we can profit by this.“
Martin Koch makes it to the top after the third scored round
It´s getting more and more exciting in Oberstdorf. The third scored round has just ended and one jump is missing to determine the new World Champion. After a bad trial round Norwegian Bjoern Einar Romoeren couldn´t be satisfied with his second jump today, either. He dropped back on place three. Instead Austria´s Martin Koch has taken over the lead with a jump of 213 metres and a total of 629,9 points ahead of Gregor Schlierenzauer who claimes the second place with 208,5 metres. Now the gap between the first three athletes has increased to 14,6 points.
Janne Ahonen who was seventh after the second round has got closer to the podium. For the Finn the second best width was noted with 209 metres. He ranks on place four now ahead of Thomas Morgenstern (AUT) and Janne Happonen (FIN). Adam Malysz (POL), Simon Ammann (SUI), Harri Olli (FIN) and Andreas Kuettel (SUI) complete the top ten. Foto: Martin Schmitt GER
205,5 metres for Schlierenzauer in the trial round
On the day of the decision in the Individual competition the fans around the hill can be happy about fantastic weather conditions once again. 13 degrees Celsius above zero and a perfect blue sky heat up the atmosphere and put the crowd into best humour.
Also the athletes have contributed to the great mood. The trial round which has just been completed has shown that the flyers are striving for real far jumps in the final. Gregor Schlierenzauer landed at 205,5 metres ahead of Finland´s Janne Happonen who made it to 202,5 metres. Tom Hilde´s distance of 201,5 metres took him to place three. Altogether seven jumpers left out the trial round.
Among the forejumpers there was also ski jumping legend Andreas Goldberger. He provided spectacular images from the camera fastened on his helmet. Among others he believes that his compatriots can score the victory today: “Schlierenzauer, Koch and Romoeren are the ones who will carry out the fight for the victory today.“
Who becomes Ski Flying World Champion?
After the Ski Flying World Champion from 2004 and 2006 Roar Ljoekelsoey (NOR) dropped out in the first round yesterday, there will definitely be a new champion today. His compatriot Bjoern Einar Romoeren laid the best foundations for the victory as he scored the top result at halftime with 424,1 points ahead of three Austrians. After distances around 220 metres had been reached teh day before spectators and fans can look forward to a thrilling final at the Heini Klopfer Ski Flying Hill.
At 3 pm the trial round is scheduled. Afterwards the decision of the day draws nearer and nearer. The best 30 athletes of the past day go about the third jump of the competition at 4.30 pm. So far the gap between the first three jumpers amounts to only 2,8 points. Even Thomas Morgenstern on place four is still within reach for the victory with 413,2 points. Lastly the new chmapion will be cheered for by the fans after the final which starts at 5 pm.
In the evening the new World Champion will be crowned at the award ceremony in the Nordic Park in the centre of Oberstdorf at 8 pm.
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