For the First Time in 20 Years Without Kamil Stoch: World Championships Begin

Poland is sending 19 athletes to compete at the World Championships in Trondheim, marking a historic moment in Nordic skiing. For the first time since 2005, Kamil Stoch – a multiple Olympic and World Championship medalist – will not be taking part. This absence opens the door for Poland to return from the event without a medal, a scenario not seen for 20 years.

The Polish team, selected by Austrian coach Thomas Thurnbichler, is based on World Cup rankings and best individual results this season. Among the men, there is rising hope with the youngest team member, Paweł Wąsek, who has already placed in the top ten on several occasions, including a fourth-place finish on the mammoth hill in Oberstdorf. Other notable jumpers include Aleksander Zniszczoł, Jakub Wolny, Dawid Kubacki, and Piotr Żyła – the latter, as defending champion on a smaller hill, guarantees Poland a fifth starting place.

Polish memories of Trondheim run deep. In 2001, Adam Małysz set a record on the venue that stunned even his coach, Apoloniusz Tajner. However, the facilities have since been modernized: both jumping hills were replaced in 2021 and officially opened on February 1, 2023. While the winter season has been average for the Polish squad – with no podium finishes so far in the World Cup and their first win still nearly two years away – coach Thurnbichler believes the best performers this season will be Wąsek along with his teammates Zniszczoł, Wolny, Kubacki, and Żyła.

In the absence of Kamil Stoch, who had prepared for these championships with his own team led by Czech Michał Doleżal, attention turns to the new era. Stoch, a three-time Olympic champion who made his debut 20 years ago in Oberstdorf, has won a total of six medals at major events. His omission comes as a result of the selection criteria – based on current World Cup form – which saw other jumpers outperform him this season.

The championships in Trondheim will feature a diverse program spanning 25 events – including ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and Nordic combined. On the women’s side, favourite Nika Prevc, who has won the latest six individual competitions (including two over the weekend in austriacally hosted Hinzenbach), is expected to be a strong contender. Poland’s female team will also be represented by Anna Twardosz, Pola Bełtowska, and Nicole Konderla, after Natalia Słowik opted to suspend her career.

In cross-country skiing, eight Polish athletes will compete, though they have sporadically scored World Cup points this season. The Norwegian contingent, meanwhile, is expected to be led by Johannes Klaebo – a sprint specialist who has also excelled in distance events, along with Nordic combined star Jarl Magnus Riiber, who is battling a chronic condition and aims to secure medals on home ground before his career concludes.

The opening ceremony is set for Wednesday evening, with medals being awarded from Thursday onward, and the championships run until March 9.

Source: Polska Agencja Prasowa