Four Hills Tournament: Sleepless Prevc defeated his career curse – THE WORLD

Eight hours awaited some of them already out in the cold of Bischofshofen – then, at 19 clock, redeemed Slovenia introverted ski star Peter Prevc the numerous as never had traveled from his home fans , With its landing at 142.5 meters burned flares, and suddenly it was over even at this gifted Springer with restraint. . He shouted his joy out and hugged his teammates and let himself be carried on their shoulders through the outlet

Peter Prevc had long to wait for such a moment – he was often close and never had won big. With 23 years he now picked up 19 years after his compatriot Primoz Peterka victory in the Four Hills Tournament. “It was here so exciting, just great. The last eleven days were insane,” he said, who had three days not slept in his own words.

It is the deserved victory of the currently dominant ski jumper and his long overdue first great triumph. And it’s the revenge for the bitter defeat of his career. The winner then: Severin Freund, now in second place of the overall ranking. The German moves but the winner home.

At the last competition of the Four Hills Tournament friend would have spells and Slovene must falter, to reverse the situation once again. Too large protrusion of Prevc was (19.7 points). And he built it out further: Prevc jumped again as the noise and secured the third victory in a row. There, where seven years in a row Austrian fans cheered one of their jumpers, now celebrated 5000 Slovenes a folk festival. Friend secured second place in Bischofshofen and the silver medal in the overall standings ahead of Austrian Michael Hayböck.

German virtually

“It was extremely fun. If one is four times on the podium in the Tour, you have a lot done right,” said a satisfied Severin Freund. Its result is the best result a German Springer since 2003, when Sven Hannawald also flew to second place. “In the second race he showed his best jump,” praised head coach Werner Schuster, “Peter Prevc deserved to win, but Serverin can be proud of himself and his power.”

After years of touring frustration for the Germans in general, but also for friend in particular team and spectators had finally reason to cheer and tenterhooks. And tremble. Finally friend Start stood in Bischofshofen under the worst possible conditions.

The consequences of his fall in the trial round of Innsbruck were still more painful than imagined, covered his body with bruises , He had to take a day off on Wednesday to renew itself on. The higher its performance in Bischofshofen is assessed. But otherwise: “If things go normally, are 20 points difficult to catch up in a Jump” says ski jumping legend Martin Schmitt. And with Peter Prevc it hits certainly not the wrong person.

The Eternal Second Peter Prevc

The Slovene from Never, however, the Golden – the small village of Dolenja Vas collected in recent years to satisfy medals. He was third in the tour and at the ski flying World Championships, Olympic silver medalist and -Dritter Sochi 2014, once silver and twice bronze medalist of the World Cup and last second twice the overall World Cup. Similarly, constant jumped in the past two years only friend.

Severin Freund trained in the wind tunnel for tour

              If the Four Hills Tournament starts behind the German ski jumpers hundreds of training jumps. But also many hours in the wind tunnel. Again and again they check the ideal flying position Source:. The World / Sport

The duel this tour was therefore also the duel of the last season finals, was identified as only with the last jump of the winter the winner of the overall World Cup. In Planica thousands Slovenian fans. At the end of friend and Prevc were tied in the lead. Because of the larger number of individual victories but cheered the German. After seemingly cool outside, be Prevc first had to catch. “It took him a little time,” said the Slovenian journalist Miha Simnovec. “As comforting put him a radio reporter’s hand on his shoulder, he pushed her hand away. ‘Give him another 15 minutes,” said the press officer. “

friend is driving for Prevc

Discourage Prevc not settled. Every second or third place renewed spurred him on even more. “He and his environment are motivated to the hair tips,” says head coach Werner Schuster. “If he’s behind Severin finished second, he jumped on the next day, as if there were no tomorrow.” Namely, with an aggressive jump style that is surpassed in the World Cup field only Prevc ’16 years old brother Domen.

For the family Prevc that you can without say exaggeration is ski crazy. The father jumped earlier. “Like all young people in Slovenia. If there is snow, we build jumps and jump,” says Simnovec. In addition to Peter and huge talent Domen also brother Cene, 19 self jumping the ten-year Ema currently gaining her age and everything suggests the boys. Only the smallest sister Ema, six years old, not leaps. But over private, especially about his family, Peter Prevc not persuaded. “He especially protects his brothers,” says Simnovec.

Quiet tones, long jumps

Prevc is the Primoz Peterka opposite of. The Tournament winner from 1996/97 fired overnight at the head, was extroverted. Prevc has grown as top athletes slowly and not talking much. Hardly anyone in Springer camp really knows him. “Friendly, quiet, ambitious, a hard worker,” are the words with which to describe Springer as force Hayböck and friend him.

“He is not one the great words, “says Hayböck. “If you ask him something, he says a word. But by itself it does not say anything.” A bit has it changed in the course of this tour, Prevc kids even times are longer answers – even if he then quickly disappears. A star in his home country he is, despite this reluctance, was elected three times in succession to top athletes of the year. And he has not much of a man of many words be – that he is a man further jumps

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