Selina Freitag secured the first medal for Germany at the Nordic Ski World Championships, achieving silver in the individual competition on the normal hill at the event held in Trondheim, Norway. The 23-year-old from Aue, Saxony, finished behind Slovenia's Nika Prevc, who claimed the gold medal, solidifying her status as the favorite.
Freitag's impressive jumps of 99 meters and 103.5 meters earned her 250.8 points, marking her first individual medal at any major international competition. This victory is particularly significant for Freitag, who previously won two golds with the German team at the World Championships held in Planica, Slovenia, in 2023, albeit without securing individual success.
Reflecting on her achievement, Freitag expressed her joy, stating, "This is incredible; so much hard work is finally paying off. I’m just so happy right now." Her performance not only symbolizes her personal breakthrough but also ends the German team's medal drought at this year’s championships.
Nika Prevc demonstrated her dominance throughout the competition, jumping distances of 98 meters and 100 meters, and finishing with 259.2 points, marking her as not just the event winner but also solidifying her rank as one of the elite competitors in the sport. Freitag's success signals her growth as formidable competition, particularly after having placed second multiple times behind Prevc throughout the season.
The bronze medal was awarded to Norweigan local favorite Anna Odine Strøm, whose jumps of 99 and 96.5 meters brought her to 246.6 points. Agnes Reisch, another German competitor, made it to the top ten with her eighth-place finish, showcasing the competitive depth of the German team.
Unfortunately for defending champion Katharina Schmid, the competition did not go as anticipated. She struggled with her jumps, finishing 19th after failing to find her rhythm, which is concerning for her title defense. Schmid’s initial jump of 90 meters and subsequent one of 86.5 meters left her far from the medal contention.
A concerning moment for the German team came when Luisa Görlich sustained a severe knee injury during the qualifying rounds, causing her to withdraw from the competition. Team doctor Florian Porzig indicated the injury could be serious, possibly requiring surgery, emphasizing the challenges faced by the German squad.
The day was filled with varying emotions as Freitag celebrated her historic achievement, juxtaposed against the hardships of her teammates. The upbeat energy from Freitag's silver was tangible as she celebrated her performance with fans and teammates.
Looking forward, the German team hopes to build on Freitag’s success as they prepare for the team event scheduled for tomorrow evening, optimistic about securing more medals.