When the spectators in Planica had long since disappeared, national ski jumping coach Stefan Horngacher ran full steam ahead into the outrun and slipped in front of his medal athletes.
The short kneel in the snow was the final picture of a crazy World Championship evening, at the end of which Andreas Wellinger won silver and Karl Geiger bronze in the individual on the normal hill.
“It was almost world champion how we did it. It’s really cool to be the head coach of this team that works in the background. And of course also to be the coach of athletes who are always involved,” said Horngacher.
Two medals are ‘incredible’
The fact that Poland’s Piotr Zyla won gold became a minor matter – at least for the overjoyed German entourage, who, with a total of two gold, three silver and one bronze, have already surpassed their haul from two years ago. “We would have aimed for a medal. It’s unbelievable that we’re doing two now,” said the 53-year-old Tyrolean, who seven weeks ago after the tournament bankruptcy was still in great need of explanation and now seemed relieved like never before.
Wellinger’s tough years with a cruciate ligament tear and crises seem finally over with the individual World Cup medal. “If I let it sink in, it will certainly have a very high priority because the last few years have been more bad than right – or I’ve always gotten one on the sack,” said the 27-year-old silver winner, who last had already demonstrated an enormous upward trend.
Geiger (30), on the other hand, is having a difficult year, failed on the tour and even took a weekend break from competitions afterwards. The plan worked, as the thrilling jumping on Saturday showed. “It was intensely exhausting, but super awesome. That’s really special, I’m incredibly happy,” said Geiger, who lived up to his former nickname as “Kleinschanzen-Karle”.
