Olympics: Sensation in ski leaping – Philipp Raimund wins Olympic gold | EUROtoday

In the floodlights of the Predazzo ski leaping facility, it’s the German Philipp Raimund who’s the final ski jumper to push into the inrun lane. It’s the possibility of a lifetime. At his first Olympic Games, in his finest season so far, however after a modest Four Hills Tournament and well being issues, he’s on the right track for a medal. What’s extra: the 25-year-old leads after the primary spherical. All different jumpers are down. Everyone appears at him. The ski leaping stadium is firmly in German fingers.

And then, in a very powerful second of his profession, he jumps off – and flies. It flies and flies, lastly touchdown at 106.5 meters. Is this the Olympic victory? Or silver? A medal appears sure. But what coloration is the dear metallic?

Now it is time to wait. Raimund receives good marks for posture, holds his skis in entrance of his face with a fearful look and hardly dares to take a look at the scoreboard. These are anxious moments. Then salvation: the quantity flashes. Raimund shouts out his happiness. “Yeah!” Andreas Wellinger, 2018 Olympic champion, falls into his arms. Then teammate Felix Hoffmann pushes him. The two take the sensational Olympic champion of those Winter Games on their shoulders. With the German flag in his fingers, he cheers exuberantly and shouts many times within the shiny floodlights: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Philipp Raimund: “I’m so proud”

National coach Stefan Horngacher runs round loosely within the stands. The German supervisors and trainers – they cowl their faces with their fingers and pull their hats over their eyes. Nobody can imagine it. Not even the boldest optimists had anticipated this German Olympic victory.

Raimund had by no means been on the highest podium on the World Cup earlier than. “He was more focused than ever in his life,” marvels the nationwide coach. And Raymond? He is extremely comfortable and hardly is aware of the place to place his power and pleasure. “I was really nervous before the first jump,” he says. “I don’t know how I did it. I’m so proud. Now I’m an Olympic champion, it’s incredible.”

After luger Max Langenhan’s triumph the day earlier than, that is the second gold medal for the German group on the third day of the video games and the fourth medal total. Behind Raimund, Kacper Tomasiak from Poland takes silver. Third place is shared by the Japanese Ren Nikaido and the Swiss Gregor Deschwanden.