For Katharina Althaus it’s only half time in Planica, Slovenia. After winning individual gold on Thursday and team gold, the 26-year-old from Allgäu sang loudly and fervently with her teammates several times:
“We are number one in the world.” What’s still in it for Germany’s number one, who is heading for her third title in mixed on Sunday (5 p.m. / ZDF and Eurosport)? “I’m just so happy that I already have two medals – twice gold, that’s crazy, of course. Everything that comes now is an encore,” said Althaus.
In fact, in the Valley of the Schanzen, she could achieve a feat that will make history. There have never been four titles at one world championship in ski jumping. Team colleague Markus Eisenbichler won gold three times in Seefeld and Innsbruck in 2019, as did Austria’s record World Cup winner Gregor Schlierenzauer in Oslo in 2011.
Althaus’ trainer Maximilian Mechler immediately dismissed the fact that his athlete could become the big star of the World Championships. “It’s perfect the way it is now. If anything else comes up, we’ll be happy to take it with us. But it’s quite enough,” said Mechler.
