PREDAZZO, Italy — In a stunning turnaround of fortunes, Austria’s ski jumping team seized Olympic gold Monday during the historic debut of the men’s super team event at the Milan Cortina Games. The victory came under extraordinary circumstances as a severe snow squall forced the cancellation of the final round, leaving second-round standings to determine the podium.
Jan Hoerl and Olympic newcomer Stephan Embacher delivered exceptional performances throughout the competition, with Embacher recording the longest jump of the contest at 139 meters (456 feet). Their triumph marked a dramatic redemption for Austria, which had dominated the men’s team event in Beijing 2022 but had failed to reach the podium in any ski jumping discipline during these Games.
“The last 10 days were hard for our team so it was the last chance today,” reflected Hoerl, a veteran of the 2022 winning team. “We knew that, so we kept focused and we were able to enjoy five good jumps. It’s amazing, unbelievable.”
The new super team format replaced the traditional four-man team competition, featuring two-athlete teams from seventeen nations. The top twelve teams advanced from the first round, with the best eight progressing to what would become the canceled final round.
Poland captured silver while Norway claimed bronze, with both teams expressing satisfaction with their unexpected podium finishes. For Poland’s Kacper Tomasiak, the medal completed a remarkable Olympic debut that included silver on the normal hill and bronze on the large hill.
The competition’s dramatic conclusion came as heavy, wet snow and shifting winds created unsafe conditions for the remaining jumpers. Sandro Pertile, race director for the international ski federation, explained that the deteriorating weather was slowing in-run speeds and creating unfair competitive advantages for later jumpers.
The cancellation prevented several teams from making their final jumps, including Japan’s Ren Nikaido who had medaled in every ski jump event at these Olympics. Slovenia’s Domen Prevc, the season’s dominant skier, saw his team drop to fifth place after struggling in the challenging conditions.
The U.S. team of Kevin Bickner and Tate Frantz qualified for the final round but ultimately finished in eighth position.