Austria cruise to team ski jumping gold in Vancouver

Ski Jumping Vancouver 2010 Post a comment

Posted: Monday 22nd February 2010 | 21:18

AUSTRIA confirmed themselves as kings of the hill with a resounding defence of their ski jumping large hill team title at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

TOO GOOD: Austria have too much strength in depth and clinch large hill team gold (Getty Images)

Switzerland's Simon Ammann was dominant in the two individual events but it was the Austrian quartet who joined forces to emphatic effect, retaining their team title by a record margin.

With four of the world's top five ski jumpers, the Austrians were heavy favourites for gold having won the past three world championships as well as triumphing in Turin four years ago.

But the talented quartet still had to do the business at the Whistler Olympic Park and they did it in style.

After cruising through the first round with 547.3, the quartet of Wolfgang Loitzl, Andreas Kofler, Thomas Morgenstern and Gregor Schlierenzauer scored 145.2 in the final round for an overall total of 1107.9.

And Morgenstern, who clinched his third Olympic gold with the result, admitted it was a feeling you don't become tired of.

"I feel so fantastic. It is a dream to win again," said Morgenstern. "To have three Olympic gold medals - I really can't believe this.

"You cannot compare the feeling between now and Turin. I need some time to let it sink in I think.

"But it was nice to finish the Games with some of my best jumps because I did not do so well in the large hill and normal hill and was disappointed with that.

"We have all done it together. We are great friends and a great team."

Germany were always in second place in Whistler, but were never in danger of challenging the Austrians as the quartet of Michael Neumayer, Andreas Wank, Martin Schmitt and Michael Uhrmann eventually finished with 1035.8 back in silver.

Norway and Finland fought out an entertaining battle for bronze before Norway's Anders Bardal, Tom Hilde, Johan Remen Evensen and Anders Jacobsen who prevailed, finishing on 1030.3.

But it was Austria who thrilled on the day with Gregor Schlierenzauer bringing the curtain down on the Olympic ski jumping competition with a huge final leap of 146.5, capturing a debut Olympic gold and his third medal of the Games.

The Austrian competitors had disappointed in the individual events with Schlierenzauer their only medallist.

And while Four Hills champion Kofler and world number three Morgenstern again flattered to deceive with their jumps, Loitzl and Schlierenzauer were streaks ahead as Austria claimed their third gold of the 2010 Games.

And Germany's Uhrmann admitted it was hard to accept that they were never going to catch the Austrians in Whistler.

"We didn't want to be distracted by the Austrians being out in front, but it was clear we could get a podium," said Uhrmann.

"I didn't want to just defend second place. I really wanted to go for it and try to win gold and maybe that's why my last jump didn't turn out that great."