Sara Takanashi Triumphs in Courchevel

In an exhilarating display of skill, Japan's Sara Takanashi clinched victory at the second FIS Grand Prix of the 2024 summer series in Courchevel on Wednesday, scoring an impressive 250.3 points. She outperformed Austria's Jacqueline Seifriedsberger, who finished with 231.7 points, and France's Josephine Pagnier, who garnered 230.8 points.

Takanashi reflected on her victory, stating, "I've always loved the hill in Courchevel, but unfortunately I haven't been able to win in recent years. So I'm really happy, and I'll always remember this competition today. The level in women's ski jumping has improved enormously, and it's no longer so clear who will win; it's as exciting as in the men's competitions."

With this win, Takanashi now leads the overall Grand Prix rankings with 180 points, followed closely by Seifriedsberger with 140 points, and Slovenia's Ema Klinec, who triumphed on Tuesday but finished 10th today with 126 points.

Notable performances also came from Alexandria Loutitt, who finished fourth, Lisa Eder in fifth, and Qi Liu, who made a strong impression with a seventh-place finish. However, last winter's overall World Cup champion, Nika Prevc, faced a setback when her binding clip came loose, causing a minor crash. Nevertheless, she showcased her resilience by securing ninth place in the event.