That's Why Kamil Stoch Isn't Going to the World Championships – 'That's the Truth'

Kamil Stoch had clung to the belief until the very end that, even with his poor form, he might participate in the World Championships in Trondheim. However, in the final analysis, coach Thomas Thurnbichler decided against including him in the squad. Eurosport’s Sebastian Szczęsny, in his segment on Mission Sport, explained the rationale behind the decision:

“He did not give us any argument that would confirm he has recovered and is performing at a top-five level.”

The World Championships in classical ski jumping have already commenced in Trondheim. While the women began their training on the normal hill earlier, the men are scheduled to appear on the Trondheim hills starting Friday. The coach has chosen to rely on athletes such as Paweł Wąsek, Jakub Wolny, Aleksander Zniszczoł, Dawid Kubacki, and Piotr Żyła, leaving no room for Kamil Stoch in the final lineup.

Stoch, a veteran of Polish ski jumping, fought until the very end for a spot on the team – even traveling to Sapporo for the World Cup to prove he had returned to top form. Unfortunately, he only managed performances in the lower part of the top twenty in both competitions.

Sebastian Szczęsny further commented:

“The World Championships are not an event you attend based on past merits or reputation. They are an event where a country aims to achieve the best overall result. At this moment, Kamil does not guarantee that.”

Moreover, he added that Stoch failed to provide any evidence that he was back in the top five form.

In the broader context of Polish ski jumping, a journalist from Eurosport also assessed the medal potential of the Polish team. There is a strong possibility that the traditionally strong competitors – the White and Reds – might return from Norway without any medals. In recent years, Polish ski jumpers have managed to gather points, but they no longer belong to the very elite of the sport.

“The time when we were a powerhouse in ski jumping is over. Now, we are very strong as mid-level competitors – and that's the truth.”