The 73rd edition of the Four Hills Tournament has kicked off, and the Polish team is looking to bounce back from a disappointing start. In Oberstdorf, the Austrians dominated the competition, taking all three spots on the podium, with Stefan Kraft securing his 44th career win. Meanwhile, the Polish skiers struggled, with only two out of four making it to the second round – Paweł Wąsek and Jakub Wolny. Wąsek finished 10th, his best result this season, while Wolny came in 30th.
Adam Małysz, the Polish ski jumping legend, expressed his frustration with the team’s performance, saying, „I’m proud of Paweł’s result, but the rest is tragic. We’re spending a lot of money, but we’re not getting any results.” Despite the struggles, fans remain optimistic, hoping that the team will finally break through in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
On Tuesday, December 31st, the Polish team will get another chance to prove themselves in the qualifications for the New Year’s Eve competition. Five Polish skiers will take part in the event, including Wąsek, Wolny, Aleksander Zniszczoł, Piotr Żyła, and Dawid Kubacki. Kubacki, the Olympic bronze medalist, will be looking to improve on his disappointing performance in Oberstdorf, where he failed to qualify for the main competition.
Polish skiers have had success in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the past, with Kamil Stoch and Kubacki each claiming a victory here. However, this year, a repeat of that success seems unlikely, with Stoch not participating in the tournament and Kubacki struggling with form.
The qualifications for the New Year’s Eve competition will take place on Tuesday, December 31st, at 13:30, preceded by an official training session at 11:30. Eurosport 1 will broadcast the event, and a live stream will also be available on the MAX platform. Sports fans can also follow the text coverage on Sport.pl and the mobile app Sport.pl LIVE.
According to the International Ski Federation (FIS), the Polish team has been working hard to improve their performance, with coach Thomas Thurnbichler emphasizing the importance of patience and consistency. With the team’s current form, however, it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to turn their season around in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Will the Polish skiers be able to finally break through and achieve the success they’ve been striving for? Tune in to the qualifications on Tuesday to find out.