World Cup Opening Without Piotr Żyła for the First Time in 14 Years: Here's Why

The Polish Ski Jumping team has unveiled its roster for the inaugural weekend of the World Cup in Lillehammer. Notable names line the list, yet one significant absence stands out: Piotr Żyła. This veteran athlete will miss the event for the first time since 2010, primarily due to an injury that has plagued him for several weeks.

During an interview, coach Thomas Thurnbichler explained the selections made, stating, "Before the second training camp, we nominated Dawid Kubacki, Paweł Wąsek, and Aleksander Zniszczoł. This trio performed best during the trials in Zakopane. There was a fierce competition for the last two spots, with five jumpers performing at the same level."

Thurnbichler continued, stating that their decisions focused on the athletes’ forms from the training camps in Wisła and Zakopane, as well as tests conducted earlier this week, where Kamil Stoch and Maciej Kot excelled. Consequently, they secured spots for Lillehammer. Unfortunately for Żyła, he is unable to compete due to his recent knee surgery.

Thomas Thurnbichler elaborated, "Piotrek has shown significant improvement over the last two months following his surgery. Physically, he is almost back to peak condition. However, what matters most now is for him to stay home, train calmly, stabilize his jumps, and prepare for competitions in Wisła."

Despite appearing on October 18 at the Summer Polish Championships, Żyła is not yet ready to jump at the top level. He underwent knee cleaning surgery in August. He reflected on his decision to go under the knife, explaining that he had been experiencing pain for some time and realized that the persistent discomfort made training unbearable. Thus, he and his coaches agreed that summer was the right time to correct what was wrong with his knee. “Some things were cleaned up and improved, and I have returned to activity without any problems,” the 37-year-old stated.

The World Cup's first weekend is set for November 23-24 in Lillehammer, followed by the next competition in Ruka.

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