The ski jumping competition of the FISU World University Games in Lake Placid 2023 started on Monday with the men’s and women’s individual competitions on the normal hill at the Olympic Jumping Complex.

The men’s winner was Danil Vassilyev from Kazakhstan, who scored 257.3 points over two rounds ahead of his Austrian teammates Maximilian Lienher (251.4) and Timon Pascal Kahofer (248.8).

Vassilyev took the lead after the first round (127.2 m) with the longest jump of 93.5 m and tied Lienher for the best jump of the final round with 97.5 m – and secured the victory.

“It’s a very good atmosphere, a very good place,” said the new FISU Games champion, who also represented his country at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne. “It’s a great competition, a great day for my sporting career.”

“It is a great honor to be one of the Austrians to come here and represent my university in Innsbruck,” said Lienher.

Kahofer was also grateful to represent his university and country, but while celebrating his achievement here at Lake Placid, he already had his eyes set on his next assignment, which is the student element of being a student athlete when he returns home.

“First, I have to write an exam coming up in February, so I probably have to study a lot and hope to have a good time with my college mates,” said Kahofer.

“It’s a great advantage to be able to take a break from the sport, free your head and not think about ski jumping 24/7,” added Lienher.

Kahofer (pictured below) also has a party planned after his return, the result of a bet placed before Monday’s party.

“The funny thing is yesterday I said if I win a medal my teammates will be able to shave my hair, so that’s probably the first thing we’ll do when we get back. Then just have fun and enjoy the moment.”

For the women, Nicole Konderla of Poland (pictured below) got all the glory under the lights. Her outstanding score of 117.2 in the first round helped her to top the overall standings with 231.6 points.

Japan’s Machiko Kubota made up for it in the final round with 116.7 points, but it wasn’t enough and she deserved silver with a total of 224.8. Kinga Rajda, also from Poland, was third with a score of 209.7.

“It’s been a tough day for me because my physical condition isn’t good, but I feel really good because I’m a winner,” Konderla said, adding that her next goal is to participate in the world championships next month in Planica, Slovenia.

The 2023 Lake Placid competition will continue on Wednesday with a mixed team competition, followed by a women’s and men’s team competition on Friday.

Written by Diana Hong, FISU Young Reporter

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