Katharina Schmid Dominates Villach World Cup Event
Germany’s Katharina Schmid took the spotlight on Sunday as she clinched her first victory of 2025 at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup event held at Villach, Austria. Schmid's impressive jumps measured 95.5 and 97 meters, allowing her to surge past her main competitor, Nika Prevc of Slovenia, who had been leading after the first round.
This victory is particularly significant for Schmid, marking her fourth individual win of the season. The 28-year-old from Allgäu showed remarkable skill and composure, especially after previously faltering in the Two-Nights Tour just days prior. "I’m really happy about the victory today. It wasn’t the easiest competition but I’m feeling waybetter and it feels great to be on top again,” Schmid expressed gleefully after the competition, underscoring her determination to maintain her lead.
Prevc, only 19 years old, was the first to jump and established herself as the leading competitor with strong performance early on, but her luck dwindled during her second jump when she managed just 94 meters. Despite holding onto the lead with 7 points after the initial round, Prevc's slip meant she ended up falling back to eighth place overall, culminating in disappointment for the young athlete who has been steadily chasing Schmid this season.
Following her first jump, Prevc had set what seemed like unstoppable momentum, showcasing her strength with considerable jumps and even breaking the hill record during qualifying earlier the same day. Yet, the unpredictable and challenging conditions of the jump played tricks, swaying the competition's outcome dramatically. "I did really good jumps but in the last one I did a little mistake which cost me a lot of points. That’s the sport though and I don’t have to worry about my ski jumping,” she reflected on her performance, hinting at her readiness to bounce back.
The podium saw another noteworthy performance by Jacqueline Seifriedsberger of Austria, who secured third place with jumps of 94 and 97 meters. This was especially triumphant for her, as it marked her first podium finish of the season, creating noticeable excitement among the local fans. Seifriedsberger mentioned the impact of the crowd on her performance, stating, "It (the supporters) definitely pushed me and I’m very happy to jump like this today." The support from the home crowd undoubtedly fueled her spirit as she aimed for the top spot.
With this victory, Schmid extended her lead at the top of the overall World Cup standings. After this event, she accumulated 655 points, broadening her margin over Prevc's 609 points by 46. Selina Freitag of Germany trails with 348 points, reflecting the competitive nature of the sport this season.
The Villach World Cup event wrapped up with excitement brewing as the competitors eyed the next day's competition, back at the HS98 Normal Hill. More ski jumpers are anticipated to participate, as the second event promises to bring fresh challenges and opportunities for these athletes to showcase their talent. The qualifying round is scheduled at 13:00 CET, followed by the first round at 14:20 CET.
Overall, Schmid’s resounding victory serves not just as personal triumph but sets the tone for the season moving forward. It reinforces her capability as one of ski jumping's elite athletes and promises more exhilarating competitions to come as the World Cup progresses.