Ammann jumps into normal hill lead after first round

WORLD Cup leader Simon Ammann set the standard in the first round of the normal hill ski jumping at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

HIGH FLIER: World Cup leader Simon Ammann leads the normal hill ski jumping after the first round in Vancouver (Getty Images)

The 28-year old, who scooped normal and large hill gold in Salt Lake City eight years ago, jumped 105m to take the lead on 135.5 at the Whistler Olympic Park.

The Swiss has duelled with Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer for dominance in the World Cup this season but his young rival failed to match up to Ammann in the normal hill as the 20-year old scored 128 to place seventh.

Germany's Michael Uhrmann won the qualifying competition on Friday and impressed again to place second in Whistler.

The 31-year old, who finished an agonising fourth in Turin four years ago, scored 133 after a jump of 103.5m and sits 0.5 ahead of third placed Adam Malysz.

Austria's Thomas Morgenstern lies fourth on 130 while Finland's Janne Ahonen and Slovenia's Robert Kranjec also lead Schlierenzauer after the first round.

Normal hill world champion Wolfgang Loitzl and Four Hills champion Andreas Kofler will have their work cut out to catch up with the leaders after scoring 124.5 and 121 to place 12th and 17th respectively.

AS IT HAPPENS: Day two from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver