The Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim came to an end on Sunday after 25 medal events. The big winners were the Norwegian hosts, who dominated with 32 medals – 13 of them gold. Austria, led by its “Eisbär athletes,” could also be satisfied with eight medals in total, even though, just like two years ago in Planica, there was no gold this time.

A bit more had been expected from the ÖSV ski jumpers, who had dominated the winter season so far – specifically, at least one world championship title. “We’re heading home on a positive note, but for some it was surely a bit disappointing. The results were quite mixed. I’m glad we’re done now, because this hill was really tough to jump on,” summarized ÖSV head coach Andreas Widhölzl.

Jan Hörl delivers four times over

Of the leading trio Daniel Tschofenig, Stefan Kraft, and Jan Hörl, it was only Hörl who fully lived up to expectations – returning home with four medals in his luggage. “It was an amazing World Championship for me with four medals in four events. I’m really happy that I found my confidence and heart for good jumps again,” said Jan Hörl, who took bronze on the normal hill and silver on the large hill, plus bronze in the mixed team and silver in the men’s team event.

Among the women, ÖSV star Eva Pinkelnig narrowly missed out on a medal on the large hill, finishing an unfortunate fourth. “That’s sports – it’s totally fine. Someone has to be fourth, and if it’s me, then so be it,” said the athlete from Vorarlberg with composure.

Hirner makes history

Things went much better for Nordic combined ace Lisa Hirner, who surprisingly won bronze on the normal hill – securing the very first individual medal for Austria’s female Nordic combined athletes at a World Championship.

“It was an incredible day. My equipment was fantastic, and everything around me just worked perfectly. A huge thank you to the entire team,” said the Styrian after her bronze success. She had already celebrated a bronze medal earlier in the mixed team event.

The men went one better in the team event, taking silver! The ÖSV quartet Fabio Obermeyr, Franz-Josef Rehrl, Martin Fritz, and Johannes Lamparter had to concede only to Germany.