Wellinger Shows Potential for Medals in Training

Nordic Ski WM: Wellinger Shows Potential for Medals in Training

• Skisprung-Olympiasieger Andreas Wellinger has excelled in his practice session at the World Championships in Trondheim, performing impressively on the normal hill, which has raised hopes for his success ahead of the competition.

• In the official training rounds held on February 28, 2025, Wellinger ranked fourth, second, and second in his three attempts. Such results indicate he could be a strong contender for a medal on competition day Sunday, where he has his sights set on qualifying during the session on Saturday at 20:30.

• Joining Wellinger in the competition will be fellow teammates Pius Paschke, who has struggled recently, alongside Karl Geiger and Philipp Raimund. German National Coach Stefan Horngacher selected four out of five participants for the training session, excluding Stephan Leyhe due to performance considerations.

• Wellinger already has a record of Olympic gold in 2018 and World Championship silvers from 2017 and 2023 on the normal hill, positioning him as a leading hope for Germany in this competition.

• On a contrasting note, Paschke has shown disappointing results, finishing in positions 36, 27, and 21. Karl Geiger, a veteran competitor, also had a subpar performance, finishing in 28th, 40th, and 33rd places, although Coach Horngacher still expressed confidence in him moving forward. Leyhe placed just slightly higher but still struggled with 26th, 15th, and 31st places.

• Overall, Wellinger’s outstanding form allows him to stand out among a team facing intense scrutiny and expectations after a lackluster season.