Richard Friday at Four Hills Tournament – From the delivery room of the flyer – Süddeutsche.de

Richard

His victory in Innsbruck describes Friday: “Yeaaah!” With the Four Hills Tournament winners Sven Hanna forest or Jens Weißflog he does not compare himself, his life began here in the same hospital.

By Lisa Saturday

As far so it was now already come. Severin Freund pulled it standing the skis away, on the seat of your pants, he slid down the discharge area. The audience laughed at the Innsbruck stadium, no, they cheered. The 26-year-old trudged laboriously towards Schanze output. The scene confirmed the impression: The Four Hills Tournament, it runs just not for the German Springer. But then Richard Freitag pushed on the bar slid down the hill, took off – and suddenly everything was different

Friday posted on Sunday afternoon in Innsbruck impressive lengths of 133.5 and 132 meters.. The 23-year-old flew both times so quiet and landed so clean that one judge even gave him the top rating of 20 points. Friday won the third tour jumping in front of Stefan Kraft, who holds the lead in the Four Hills Tournament after three competitions (the result in Innsbruck and Appreciation issue here). In the battle for the overall victory Friday playing even after his triumph not matter, but it is a key achievement: He has rehabilitated the German jumping team

After the debacle in Oberstdorf Werner Schuster had a “disaster.” spoken in Garmisch he looked seriously at first arg to himself. After the second broad set of Friday, the 45-year-old tore up both arms, clenched his fists. “We can be proud of,” the coach said after the race. “We are still shot. I’m touched.”

Friday ran as the result, it was clear back in the exit region of the hill. He jumped up and down in the snow. He waved his broad jump skis in the air, as if they were light as cross-country skiing boards. He shouted. A few minutes later, as he waited for the ceremony, he said: “That was humor, that was cool.” The Innsbruck-winner leaning against the fencing, the goggles dangling around his neck. The eyes were shining. Then he pushed afterwards: “If only it were always so easy.” In Garmisch-Partenkirchen Friday was already succeeded a long sentence in the qualification of Innsbruck as well, and now he finally completed two formidable jumps.

Many Severin Freund had only expected overall victory before tour start, he scored even even the favorites for the title. But these days is Friday the most successful German Springer. In the overall standings, he is number five, his room-mate friend is only tenth. During Friday stretched out on top of the podium the trophy in the air and the national anthem was played for him, gave interviews friend. He was, after all become eight, he was satisfied but also not this time.

In 2002, a German Springer Bergisel had last won. Sven Hanna forest flew back then most, then he secured superior in Bischofshofen the Four Hills Tournament. When asked about the Friday press conference on he drank once from a glass of orange juice and poured immediately after. At the historical dimension he did not think after the victory, he assured. “The footprints of Hanna forest are a bit bigger,” said Friday, and smiled. “Because I have to put in the shoes of a pair of socks.” Certain historical parallels between the two jumpers is there anyway that can not be denied even the modest Friday. Both athletes were namely the hospital in Saxony Erlabrunn to the world, just as it did Jens Weißflog.

Since 2009 Friday jumps in the World Cup for the fifth time he stood at the top of the podium. It is a satisfaction to him. For when the German team won Olympic gold in Sochi last year, Friday was only a spectator because of poor form. At the beginning of this season, it was not optimal, Friday jumped very unstable. In early December, he took a break to work in peace. Only in Engelberg – shortly before the Four Hills Tournament – he started again. The decision has paid off. The safety, the naturalness and confidence returned. Friday appeared at the beginning of the tour relaxed as a friend, dissolved, less grim.

“ski jumping is above all a giant head thing,” said Friday. “In that one tenth of a second you have to do so much right.” In Innsbruck he made no mistake. But even in Bischofshofen he could get more back problems in the short, decisive moment. Friday’s strengths are off and landing, but the jump in Bischofshofen is higher than that in Innsbruck. “It is a hill for flyers,” said head coach Schuster. “Because that would require the Severin can jump very well.” On this Monday evening ( Live ticker at SZ.de ) will be held the qualification, on Tuesday the competition.

However, on the next jump Friday did not want to think in Innsbruck. He rather enjoyed success. A single word rich completely out to describe how he felt at the moment, he said. However, this is a word that did not scream. “Yeaaah!”