Austrians celebrated when the best of Poles cried. Changes in jumping are needed immediately

– The championship is ongoing, but what can I say: it was a competition that most of us were getting ready for. And he did not go as we would have liked – said Jan Habdas about Thursday’s individual competition for medals at the Junior World Championships. Disappointed, although it was the competition that finished highest, in thirteenth place.

Three Poles in thirty at the World Championships. The Austrians had three jumpers, but on the podium and with medals

In the second round, 25. Arkadiusz Jojko and 26. Tymoteusz Amilkiewicz were finally jumping. Only 37. Szymon Zapotoczny was not promoted to it. And this is not a bad result if you look at the form of Polish juniors throughout the season.

However, a different ranking with the participation of Poles must already hurt: three white and reds were in the “30” of the same competition, in which three Austrian representatives took the entire podium and won all medals. And Poles aspire to be called the same power in jumping. Anyway, it’s not just about Slovenes, Norwegians or Germans, because all these teams had three players in the top fifteen. And with all of them, the Polish team looks pale.

Habdas cried out to the skis as Tschofenig finished his medal jump. The best summary

Thursday’s competition is best summed up by the scene from the very end of the competition: Daniel Tschofenig is just flying 107 meters for the gold medal at the Junior World Championships, and at the same time Jan Habdas is crying, leaning against the skis and leaning against the skis. The 18-year-old was surrounded by his parents telling him that it was good and it would be better, but he knew himself that he was not jumping to the best of his abilities.

The devastated Pole was already sitting in the players’ zone after his jump from the second round. After the first round he was tenth thanks to a great attempt at 99 meters. It was regrettable, because if he had landed better, he would have probably been quite close to the top of the competition. In the final, however, he broke his jump, he flew six meters closer and finished the competition in thirteenth place, 53.3 points behind Tschofenig.

Habdas disappointed. “I did not look at the result, but still want more”

Habdas did not stay in the top ten, although he himself admitted that he could afford a higher level. – It is emphasized by the first jump, where despite the fact that I landed badly, I was still in the top ten. There was indeed a real chance for this ten. In the second jump, I wanted to attack, I wanted to bounce harder, which made me too late for this attempt – explained the Pole after the competition. Still with tears in his eyes.

– I felt that the first jump in particular was quite good. I did not miss so much there, everything sounded in flight. Perhaps another meter or two could be scored. If I had landed better, this place would have been fine, but I guess because I also ruined the second jump. Especially there, I lost the most and it turned out as it came out – said Habdas. – I wanted to show my best side. Of course, I didn’t look at the result, I didn’t concentrate on it, but nevertheless one would like more. I am happy with this first jump, actually halfway through it, because the landing was not that good, unfortunately. If everything worked out in this jump, I could show my good side. I can say that I am half satisfied, but it will be necessary to bite back next year – added the jumper, who in 2023 will get his last chance to start at the World Championships.

Minimum target fulfilled. But the future of Polish ski jumping is undeniably threatened

There are still team and mixed team competitions ahead of the Polish jumpers, but in them it will be difficult to count on great results. If anyone thought that the junior world championship would show that Poland has a lot of potential in junior jumps, that it is strong in them, and that the results will give an indication that the future of the discipline in the country is unthreatened, then he has miscalculated. Because it is, it is indisputable.

However, the performance itself at the Middle Krokiew was not as bad as it could have been. Before the competition, many predicted that Poland would end up with one Habdas in the second round, and for him a place in the best “fifteen” competition was not certain, given the difficult conditions and specificity of the facility in Zakopane, which does not forgive even the smallest mistakes. Especially with those less experienced players.

When we asked about the goal, Secretary General Jan Winkiel told us: this minimum has been met. Because it was just about a place among the best fifteen. “Ten” would be something to enjoy. And this result, along with the two other contestants in the second series, is just acceptable.

It is not about the coming years, but about the fact that Polish jumps should come back to the top at all

So the championships have not exaggerated the problems that may be faced by Polish jumps in the future, but they have not hidden them either. They are something in the middle. Therefore, it is necessary to appeal: the situation cannot lull the vigilance of those responsible. Actions and changes – in terms of training the players, the number of coaches and the small facilities on which the jumpers can grow up – are needed a lot and preferably immediately.

Otherwise everyone will soon regret it. “, Piotr Żyła and Dawid Kubacki are already 102 years old, and we still look to the future almost only of them. Because in this season of the World Cup, Polish ski jumpers born in 2000 and later scored zero points. Poland lacks really young people more and more dramatically. talents “-.

There are many reasons for the crisis. “We do not have a base and a group of jumpers guaranteeing a decent level in the World Cup. All this is a result of the fact that in the years of the greatest successes little attention was paid to those who were to give Poland medals in the future” -.

“It is certain, however, that ski jumping will not disappear in Poland in the same way that ski jumping in Finland has almost ceased. We have an enormous tradition, powerful know-how, and the millions invested in training and infrastructure will pay off. PZN is about turning them back as soon as possible. So that at the Olympics in 2026 we can look towards the podium again “-. In the fight for their future, it is not really about the coming years, which will most likely be lean. The point is that those moments that bring the most joy should come back at all.