Big Surprise in the Mixed Team Event! Only One Gave the Poles a Glimmer of Hope

In Lake Placid on a challenging late evening, Polish ski jumping fans witnessed the mixed team competition as part of the weekend meet. The Polish team – represented by Pola Bełtowska, Anna Twardosz, Aleksander Zniszczoł, and Paweł Wąsek – ultimately finished in seventh place, ranking only ahead of the Japanese team, which had opted to rest its top stars.

The evening proved tough for the Poles. In the first round, Pola Bełtowska, who had impressed by covering 131 m the day before, managed only an 85 m jump – the shortest of the round. Aleksander Zniszczoł improved slightly with a 110 m attempt, while Anna Twardosz managed just 98.5 m. The clear standout performance came from Paweł Wąsek, who led the Polish squad with a 118 m jump, momentarily bolstering the nation’s hope.

In the second round, although Bełtowska improved to an 88 m jump, it was still far from competitive, and the team fell to the last eight positions after the first group. Zniszczoł improved his mark with a 117.5 m jump, reducing the gap to the Japanese team by less than 6 points. Twardosz was unsettled by strong gusts of wind, managing only 103 m, while a weak attempt by Japan’s Kikki Sakamoto (84 m) meant that the Polish team retained the overall seventh place.

The final positive note was Paweł Wąsek’s outstanding 123 m jump, capping off the evening on a high note. Ultimately, the Polish team’s result matched their best mixed team performance of the season from Lillehammer. There was, however, little consolation since only teams from the USA and Finland finished behind them – and the Japanese did not field their strongest lineup.

The event was marked by an unexpected win from Germany, who outperformed favorites including the Austrians. The action does not stop here: the second of the men’s individual competitions is scheduled for Sunday, with qualifications at 14:30 and the first series beginning at 16:00. Fans can follow the live action on the Przegląd Sportowy Onet website.

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