Four Hills Tournament - Beckham and Bergisel: Wellinger on the ski jump of destiny
Andreas Wellinger is also relying on soccer icon David Beckham to distract him on his way to the Four Hills Tournament victory he is aiming for.
The four-part Netflix documentary about the sports pop star is part of the evening relaxation program for him and ski jumping colleague Stephan Leyhe - even before the third stop at the infamous Bergisel, where German tour dreams have turned into nightmares on several occasions. As self-confident as Beckham once was on the grass, Wellinger is not impressed by this history. He doesn't want to know anything about a so-called fateful hill.
"No more worries than usual"
"I can do relatively little with that," says the great German ski jumping hopeful ahead of the third act of the tour on the notorious facility in Innsbruck this Wednesday (1.30 pm/ZDF and Eurosport). The wind-prone hill, on which the fallen Richard Freitag, Karl Geiger and Markus Eisenbichler, among others, have already lost their chances on the tour, is to be the penultimate step for Wellinger on the way to the really big triumph. "I am delighted. I'm no more worried than usual," says the leader in the tour rankings.
At the big highlight of the season, the 28-year-old's relaxed attitude is palpable. Wellinger is relaxed as he signs autographs on the ski jumps, takes photos with fans and jokes with coaches and colleagues. He is clearly aware of the hype surrounding him as the potential successor to the last German tour champion to date, Sven Hannawald.
Screaming fans on the ski jumps
But it doesn't bother him. "I'm proud to be in this position," says Wellinger. When spectators on the ski jump euphorically scream his name during interviews long after the competitions, he waves and smiles. He is not annoyed.
His eventful career has made him stronger. Anyone who, like him, suffers a cruciate ligament rupture after an Olympic victory, fights his way back for years and then finds his way back to the top of the world, contrary to many experts' predictions: He believes in himself and doesn't let himself get rattled so quickly. "I've learned over the last few years that I can only put the pressure on myself," says Wellinger.
One meter between Wellinger and Kobayashi
His buddy Leyhe jokingly refers to the double room as the "cruciate ligament room" because both have already overcome their knee injuries. Wellinger jokes around with him and behaves like he always does during the tour, says Leyhe. And Geiger, who has also known Wellinger for years, says: "He is very relaxed and knows exactly how to go with the flow. I really think he's going to rock this thing."
Wellinger is 1.8 points, the equivalent of one meter, ahead of Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi at the halfway point. "It's great when you're leading in the overall standings. But in the end it all comes down to the wire," he says. "The trick is to make the fewest mistakes of all until the last jump."
Like Wellinger, national coach Stefan Horngacher is not impressed by the latest German tour stories in Innsbruck. "The Bergisel doesn't bother us at all," he said. "We train there a lot - especially Andi, who lives nearby." Wellinger's home town of Ruhpolding is less than two hours' drive from Innsbruck. The 54-year-old Horngacher does not want to know anything about a fateful hill: "A fateful hill is any hill. Wherever you make mistakes, you lose points."
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- Despite relying on David Beckham's Netflix documentary for distraction, Andreas Wellinger remains undeterred by the Bergisel's infamous history in Germany's Four Hills Tournament.
- Wellinger, the Lawn's top German ski jumping hopeful, is unfazed by the wind-prone hill's past misfortunes, including those suffered by athletes like Richard Freitag and Markus Eisenbichler.
- Ahead of the third tour stop in Innsbruck, Wellinger asserts his calm confidence, having secured the lead in the rankings, and despite the looming presence of racing legend Karl Geiger.
- As the World Cup season reaches its climax, Wellinger is undisturbed by the screaming fans and hype that surrounds his potential succession of Sven Hannawald as Germany's last tour champion.
- Wellinger's colleague, Stephan Leyhe, jokes about their shared "cruciate ligament room" due to their past injuries, while national coach Stefan Horngacher dismisses the idea of a fateful hill.
- ZDF and Eurosport will broadcast the penultimate stop in Innsbruck, where a one-meter differential separates Wellinger from Ryoyu Kobayashi in the overall standings of the Four Hills Tournament.
- Fellow German skier Markus Eisenbichler echoes Geiger's praises for Wellinger's resilience, noting that the latter has a knack for going with the flow and maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.
- Wellinger's victory in the Four Hills Tournament may find a home on streaming platforms like Netflix and Eurosport, offering fans another opportunity to enjoy the thrills of Nordic skiing and Winter sports.
- With four victories at the Four Hills Tournament, David Beckham could symbolize an additional motivation for Wellinger to triumph, as the soccer icon's Canadian Mountain Series title showcases the versatility of world-class athletes.
- Wellinger's performances will inspire future generations of German skiers, including Richard Friday's son, who is already making strides in the world of ski jumping and emulating the example set by his country's most promising talent.
Source: www.stern.de
