Germany Triumphs in Exciting Grand Prix Finale

The German mixed ski jumping team clinched a prestigious victory at the FIS Grand Prix 2024 held in Klingenthal, Germany, marking a thrilling conclusion to the season.

Featuring athletes Selina Freitag, Pius Paschke, Katharina Schmid, and Andreas Wellinger, the team outperformed strong contenders from Norway and Austria in a competition that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the very last jump.

The mixed competition on Sunday proved to be one of the standout events of the summer ski jumping calendar. The outcome was decided by Norway's Marius Lindvik, who had the crucial final jump that determined the standings.

Andreas Wellinger soared to an impressive 135 meters in his final attempt, intensifying the pressure on Norway's Lindvik, who had previously won on Saturday. When it was his turn to jump, Lindvik managed only 130 meters, allowing the German team to snatch victory in a nail-biting photo finish. Cheers erupted in the stands as supporters celebrated the unexpected triumph.

"My last jump felt really good. None of us anticipated that I could take 10 points from Marius Lindvik. We were all absolutely stunned to find out it was enough to win," Wellinger remarked in disbelief after the competition.

Pius Paschke showcased outstanding performance as well. Following his impressive fourth-place finish in the individual competition the previous day, Paschke replicated his success, delivering the best individual jump of the day.

"I really enjoy this hill. I had envisioned it going well, and I’m looking forward to winter now," Paschke said, hinting at his potential as a frontrunner in the upcoming season.

Germany's national coach, Horngacher, praised Paschke, stating, "Pius jumped at an exceptionally high level both yesterday and today."

Norway’s team, despite their second-place finish, showcased their elite skills, solidifying their status as favorites during the individual competitions on Saturday, although many experts had anticipated them to win the team event.

Finishing in third place was Austria, while Japan settled for fourth. Slovenia and France rounded out the top six, with the latter—led by Josephine Pagnier and Valentin Foubert—seemingly building momentum towards the top echelon of the world rankings.

Italy and Poland were pleased to secure seventh and eighth places, respectively, earning spots in the final eight. However, teams from Finland, the USA, and Switzerland were unable to qualify for the finals.

With this thrilling finale, teams now transition into a critical phase of preparation for the 2024/2025 winter season, which kicks off for both women and men on November 22 and 23 in Lillehammer, Norway.