Stefan Kraft is so mentally stable that a setback like the one in the first Lake Placid individual competition doesn’t throw him off track. “I’m a stupid guy,” said Kraft following his fall from first to 24th place: “A really bad jump, plus bad conditions – then it washes you back.”
Everything is yesterday’s news. Kraft, who was once once more struggling with back problems, shook off his disappointment and followed up with two victories: the first in the super team competition alongside his friend, Michael Hayböck (UVB Hinzenbach) from Theningen, and the second in the second individual event.
Ski flying world champion Kraft prevailed on the US large hill 3.2 points ahead of the ex aequo runners-up Philipp Raimund (D) and Lovro Kos (Slo). It was the champion’s 38th success in total, with which he extended his lead in the overall World Cup over his pursuer Andreas Wellinger (D/sixth on Sunday) to 209 points.
“In the end, it was a very cool weekend. It’s normal that not every competition works out,” said Kraft, who doesn’t want to do too much math: “I look first and foremost at my jumps. And if they’re right, then it’s there One in front.”
As a reward there was a nice Super Bowl evening, the red-white-red flight squadron watched the football final between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on TV. “If we’re in America, then we’ll give ourselves the spectacle. It’s certainly a highlight in sport,” said the 30-year-old Pongauer. The coming days will be strenuous anyway – also because of the strain of travel.
Hayböck is missing in Japan
Kraft, Daniel Tschofenig, Daniel Huber, Clemens Aigner and Manuel Fettner continue to Sapporo. “Japan is always worth a trip, a cool place with really nice people,” explained Kraft. Head coach Andreas Widhölzl was satisfied with the results in Lake Placid: “Generally it was okay. We are in a good mood, Krafti has reported back really well,” reported the Tyrolean, who will be making a change in the team.
Hayböck, who finished eleventh in Sunday’s individual, is flying back home, but Jan Hörl is coming to Sapporo. “Michi isn’t very good with Japan, he hasn’t had the best results there yet and he’s also got a huge program behind him. A break will be good for him. It’s important to recharge your batteries and be away from the hill for a while “, explained Widhölzl. In the Nations Cup, the red-white-red aces of the competition are flying up and away: the lead over Germany is 822 points.
Author
Alexander Zambarloukos
Sports editor
Alexander Zambarloukos
