Selina Freitag achieved an impressive second place in the first World Cup jump in Ljubno on February 15, 2025, with standout performances. However, the event’s mood was dampened by Norway’s Thea Minyan Björseth suffering an injury after a fall. Katharina Schmid struggled but improved in the final jump. Luisa Görlich marked a successful return post-injury, while Emely Torazza earned her first World Cup points. Agnes Reisch sat out for load management, as the German team continues to seek success in upcoming competitions.
Selina Freitag showcased her exceptional skills in Ljubno, securing a remarkable second place in the first of two World Cup jumps on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Her impressive performance, featuring two outstanding jumps, was somewhat overshadowed by an unfortunate incident.
Freitag’s remarkable landing placed her just behind World Cup leader Nika Prevc, while Norway’s Thea Minyan Björseth claimed third place.
Björseth’s Injury Dampens the Spirit
The atmosphere took a hit when Björseth, who had been leading after the first round, suffered a fall during her landing, requiring several minutes of medical attention in the outrun. Initial assessments indicated painful injuries to her left knee and elbow, prompting her transfer to the hospital for further examination. ‘It’s never easy to witness such incidents; you can’t help but feel for her,’ expressed Katharina Schmid, who finished seventh in the competition.
While Schmid struggled to find her rhythm, Freitag appeared to glide through the competition seamlessly. The talented jumper from WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal was tied for third with Sara Takanashi after the first jump, while Takanashi fell behind, allowing Freitag to soar to the podium with an impressive jump of 94.5 meters.
Prevc, who was in second place after the first round, delivered an extraordinary jump measuring 95 meters, propelling her to the top of the leaderboard. Although Björseth had previously set a hill record with a jump of 97 meters, her fall on the second jump left her with a secured third place, albeit a bittersweet one.
Schmid’s Disappointment
Katharina Schmid expressed her frustration in Slovenia, reflecting on her mixed performance. After executing a strong trial jump, she stumbled during the competition, finishing with just 81 meters, which cost her a podium spot by halftime. However, she redeemed herself in the final with a jump of 93 meters, which lifted her two positions in the standings. Despite this improvement, the overall leader yellow jersey remains elusive for Schmid, as Prevc continues to dominate with flawless jumps.
Görlich’s Triumphant Return
Luisa Görlich made a triumphant return to the World Cup scene after nearly a year away due to an ACL tear, landing in the top 15 with a commendable 13th place finish. ‘I’m thrilled to be back; my knee feels good and there’s no pain. It’s just a joy to compete again,’ Görlich shared on ZDF. She adapted her training approach and it paid off with solid jumps of 85 and 88.5 meters.
Conversely, Juliane Seyfarth faced challenges, finishing with jumps of 79.5 and 81 meters while battling issues with her takeoff. ‘It’s not easy to get the timing right,’ said Seyfarth, concluding in 21st place overall.
Torazza’s Fortunate Break
Emely Torazza, who has been representing Germany for just six months, experienced a stroke of luck on Saturday. Following the disqualification of Norway’s Heidi Dyhre Traaserud, Torazza advanced to the finals. With jumps measuring 74 and 77 meters, she earned her first World Cup points, finishing in 26th place. Upon hearing the news of her fortunate second chance, Torazza expressed her joy, stating, ‘I cried and let it all out.’ Despite limited preparation time, she was pleased with her performance.
Alvine Holz from WSV Bad Freienwalde did not make it past the first round, finishing in 32nd place with a jump of 76.5 meters.
Reisch Takes a Break
Ski jumping enthusiasts were left searching for Agnes Reisch in the start lists on Saturday, as the standout athlete of the German team opted out of the Ljubno World Cup for ‘load management reasons’ as stated by the German Ski Association. The 25-year-old, who recently celebrated her first World Cup podium at Lake Placid, continues to be a key figure in the sport after clinching a silver in the individual event and gold in the mixed event alongside Selina Freitag, Philipp Raimund, and Andreas Wellinger.
Stay updated with the ski jumping calendar, featuring all the dates from the World Cup in Lillehammer to the World Championships in Trondheim, culminating in the season finale in Planica, available on your smartphone.
Additionally, the German ski jumpers are still searching for their breakthrough in Sapporo, Japan, with Pius Paschke leading the charge as the top German competitor.
The men’s ski jumping World Cup is set to make an exciting stop in Lake Placid; stay tuned for highlights of the top three jumps in the upcoming video recap.