Sad Forecast for Poland. 'We Can Only Count on Surprises'

Ski Jumping

Polish Olympians and veteran coaches Edward Budny and Kazimierz Długopolski do not foresee major successes for Poland at the World Championships in Trondheim. Analyzing the current results, they believe that only pleasant surprises may come their way.

Długopolski, a specialist in ski jumping and Nordic combined, admitted that he does not expect significant achievements this time, though he hopes for a nice surprise – especially from Dawid Kubacki. He recalled Kubacki’s recent improvements from his rigorous training before the championships.

According to the experts, all five members of the Polish team have the potential for strong jumps. However, unpredictable conditions may benefit other nations that are generally much stronger. In Trondheim, besides Kubacki, the team includes Piotr Żyła, who will defend his title on the normal hill, along with Paweł Wąsek, Aleksander Zniszczoł, and Jakub Wolny.

Among the women, Anna Twardosz, Pola Bełtowska, and Nicole Konderla will compete. There is cautious hope that Twardosz might deliver a breakthrough if she manages a higher jump, although past performances (such as Bełtowska’s 131-meter jump in Lake Placid) suggest that conditions play a critical role.

In Nordic combined, Joanna Kil has been chosen along with Paweł Szyndlar and Andrzej Waliczek. A former Nordic combined athlete has expressed confidence in Kil’s ability, noting that if she can improve her performance, it would be very promising for Poland.

In cross-country skiing, the Polish Ski Association has selected a team including Aleksandra Kołodziej, Izabela Marcisz, Monika Skinder, Sebastian Bryja, Dominik Bura, Kamil Bura, Piotr Jarecki, and Maciej Staręga. However, coach Edward Budny, an Olympian from Innsbruck 1964 and a seasoned trainer, is not expecting any spectacular results. He did highlight Dominik Bura’s recent effort in Falun, where he placed 21st in the 20 km mass start World Cup race.

The first medal events in Trondheim are scheduled for Thursday.