The Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim came to an end on Sunday after 25 medal events. The biggest winners were the Norwegian hosts, who outshone everyone with 32 medals, 13 of which were gold. Austria, led by the "Polar Bear athletes," could also be satisfied with a haul of eight medals, even though, just like two years ago in Planica, there was no gold this time.

More was expected from the ÖSV ski jumpers, in particular, who had dominated this winter so far; specifically, at least one world championship title. "We are heading home on a positive note. But for one or two of them, it was certainly a bit disappointing. It was very mixed. I'm glad we're leaving now because the hill was really difficult to jump on," said ÖSV head coach Andreas Widhölzl in his summary.

Jan Hörl delivered four times

Of the top trio of Daniel Tschofenig, Stefan Kraft, and Jan Hörl, only the latter delivered fully and traveled home with four medals in his luggage. "It was a mega World Championship for me with four medals in four competitions. I am very happy that I found my way back to good jumps with confidence and heart," said Jan Hörl, who won bronze on the normal hill and silver on the large hill. In addition, there were the two medals in the mixed team (bronze) and the men's team event (silver).

In the women's event, ÖSV figurehead Eva Pinkelnig narrowly missed a medal on the large hill, finishing in an ungrateful fourth place. "That's sports, that's completely okay. Someone has to be fourth; if it's me, then so be it," the Vorarlberg native said sportingly.

Hirner makes history

Things went much better for combined ace Lisa Hirner, who surprisingly won bronze in the normal hill event, thereby securing the first women's individual medal for Austrian Nordic combined athletes at a World Championship.

"It was an incredible day. I had incredible equipment and everything around it also worked perfectly. A big thank you to the entire team," the Styrian cheered after her bronze coup, having already celebrated bronze in the mixed team event before that.

The men then even took silver in the team event! The ÖSV quartet of Fabio Obermeyr, Franz-Josef Rehrl, Martin Fritz, and Johannes Lamparter were only defeated by Germany.