The 2024/25 ski jumping season has come to a close, and it was a year filled with highs and lows for Polish athletes. While many struggled, Paweł Wąsek emerged as a beacon of hope, delivering some of the best performances of his career. Thanks to Wąsek's efforts, the Polish team avoided a repeat of the disastrous 2015/16 season, when they finished without a podium finish in the World Cup.
The season finale took place in Planica, Slovenia, where Wąsek finished 14th in the overall standings. His standout moment came on March 22, 2025, when he secured a podium finish in Lahti, helping to restore pride for Polish ski jumping. This season was particularly crucial as it sets the stage for the upcoming Olympic Games, and fans, athletes, and officials from the Polish Ski Association are hoping for a much-improved performance next year.
Historically, Polish ski jumpers have had a strong track record at the Winter Olympics, returning with medals from the last four Games. However, the last time they left without a medal was back in 2006, a disappointment that still lingers in the minds of fans. With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to be held in Italy, the pressure is on to avoid a repeat of that experience. In light of this, Adam Małysz, a legendary figure in Polish ski jumping, has decided to change coaches just ten months before the Olympics. Maciej Maciusiak will take over from Thomas Thurnbichler, starting training sessions in mid-April 2025.
The final competition of the 2024/25 World Cup featured only thirty competitors, including Wąsek, Aleksander Zniszczoł, Kamil Stoch, Dawid Kubacki, and Jakub Wolny. Notably, Stoch, Kubacki, and Wolny benefited from the absence of five Norwegian jumpers who were suspended for violations related to their suits after the World Championships in Trondheim. This allowed even the 37th-ranked Finnish jumper, Antti Aalto, to compete.
As the competition began at 9:30 AM on March 30, 2025, the atmosphere was electric. Domen Prevc of Slovenia won the trial series with an impressive jump of 238 meters, scoring 218.3 points. He was followed closely by Anže Lanišek and Timi Zajc, who also performed exceptionally well. Wąsek was the best of the Polish contingent, finishing the trial series in 10th place with a jump of 222.5 meters.
During the first series of the competition, Lanišek took the lead with a score of 233.3 points after a jump of 247.5 meters. Prevc followed closely with 229.7 points from a 245-meter jump, while Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan secured third place with 221.6 points for a jump of 236 meters. Wąsek's jump of 224.5 meters earned him 12th place at that point, while Stoch, with a jump of 215 meters, was in 20th place, and Wolny was in 26th after jumping 205.5 meters.
As the competition progressed, it became clear that the Polish team faced stiff competition. Despite Wąsek's strong showing, he ultimately finished 13th overall, while Zniszczoł secured a commendable 7th place. Stoch ended in 15th, and Kubacki and Wolny finished in 28th and 26th places, respectively. In a thrilling finish, Lanišek emerged victorious with a total score of 482.1 points, followed by Prevc and Andreas Wellinger.
In a remarkable feat, Domen Prevc set a new official world record with a jump of 254.5 meters during the competition, showcasing the incredible talent present in ski jumping today. The excitement of the finale was palpable, with fans cheering for their favorite athletes and witnessing history in the making.
As the season wraps up, the Polish ski jumping team is already looking ahead to the Olympic season, hoping to build on Wąsek's success and improve their overall performance. The upcoming months will be crucial as they prepare for the challenges ahead, with new coaching strategies in place and the goal of reclaiming their position on the Olympic podium.
With the end of the season, fans are left eagerly anticipating the next competitions, including the Summer Grand Prix, which will kick off in August. The journey continues, and the Polish ski jumping team is determined to rise to the occasion, aiming for glory in the upcoming Olympic Games.
