Pawel Wasek Claims Victory in Rasnov Grand Prix

In an exhilarating display of skill and tenacity, Poland's Pawel Wasek triumphed in the first of two FIS Grand Prix competitions held in Rasnov, Romania, on Saturday. He secured victory with impressive jumps of 95 and 92 meters, narrowly edging out Austria's Ulrich Wohlgenannt, who logged jumps of 96.5 and 95 meters, and American Kevin Bickner, who recorded 97.5 and 91.5 meters. This remarkable win marks Wasek's first major competitive success, breaking a dry spell for Polish ski jumping; the last victory came in August 2023 when Piotr Zyla won in Szczyrk.

"This is my first Grand Prix victory, and I’m over the moon!" exclaimed Wasek, who navigated challenging conditions yet managed to shine through. He added, "This win is hugely important for me and for the entire team. We need success, and I'm hopeful that my jumps in tomorrow's competition will match today’s performance."

Ulrich Wohlgenannt expressed satisfaction with his second-place finish despite earlier struggles. "I’m happy with my jumps today, especially since I’ve been facing hardships recently. Today’s performance was a pleasant surprise, and now I’m looking forward to tomorrow's competition. I'm aiming to gather momentum as we head to the Grand Prix in Hinzenbach, where the competition is fierce with many talented athletes, making it a challenge I’m ready to embrace!"

US Team Shines Again
Following a commendable third-place finish from Tate Frantz in Wisla last week, the US team celebrated another podium moment today with Kevin Bickner finishing third. Bickner entered the second round in the lead, saying, "I executed good jumps today, and I’m thrilled with third place. Our rigorous training programs are paying off, and I’m optimistic about more positive results for our team in the future." Joining Bickner in contributing to the team's success were Andrew Urlaub (8th), Dean Decker (18th), and newcomer Jason Colby (27th).

The French team also showcased their growing prowess, with Ari Repellin and Enzo Milesi finishing 11th and 12th respectively, while Jules Chervet took 16th. The French squad is on an upward trajectory under head coach Nicolas Dessum, making significant progress in the competition rankings.

Insam Takes the Yellow Bib
Italian ski jumper Alex Insam vaulted to the top of the overall Grand Prix standings, securing his position with a solid 10th place finish today. Insam now leads with a total of 213 points, closely followed by Stefan Kraft and Marius Lindvik, each with 200 points. Wasek’s stellar performance has propelled him up to 4th place in the standings.

Swiss Surprise
In a surprising turn, Felix Trunz from the Swiss squad clinched a remarkable 5th place today, outperforming his teammate Simon Ammann, who finished 24th. Ammann's lower ranking is attributed to his numerous summer commitments as a four-time Olympic champion, which have hindered his training.

The excitement continues tomorrow as the second men's Grand Prix in Rasnov is set to commence at 16:00.