Sara Marita Kramer reported back impressively after weeks of sadness, which had caused the gold favorite to leave the Olympics due to the corona. Yesterday, the 20-year-old from Salzburg extended her lead in the overall World Cup to 254 points, coming second from Hinzenbach – it was her first individual podium place on the hill in the Eferdinger basin that she didn’t love much.
The first hunter is yesterday’s superior day winner, Nika Kriznar (Slo), who secured a special prize of 10,000 euros. After adding the jumping events in Ramsau and Hinzenbach, the 21-year-old can call herself “Queen of the Alps”. Kriznar’s Slovenian compatriot Ursa Bogataj, who triumphed on Saturday, went away empty-handed yesterday. Because the 26-year-old drove illegally during a yellow phase, she was disqualified.
The twinkle in the eyes
“The comeback wasn’t that easy for me, I had my problems here, but then the button popped on the last jump (to 91.5 meters, note). It was really cool. I finally have the crouch that I planned for me,” said Kramer with a winning smile.
The twinkle in the eyes is back, as is the hunger for success. “Motivation and self-confidence are great,” emphasized the exceptional athlete, who will climb onto the plane to Norway with her ÖSV colleagues tomorrow. On Wednesday the 6th Raw Air – for Kramer it is the first – will be opened on the large hill of Lillehammer.
Her pursuers are now under a lot of pressure. Because the Blue Bird Tour in Nizhny Tagil and Tchaikovsky was canceled due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are only five individual competitions left this season.
If Kramer stays fit, there will probably be no taking the crystal ball away from her. “Sara has a great starting position, we want to help her as a team to achieve this goal,” said head coach Harald Rodlauer, who, despite the absences of Daniela Iraschko-Stolz and Eva Pinkelnig, is able to set up a strong team. Three podium places on the three days of competition in Upper Austria underline that. On Friday, the ÖSV ladies won the team competition, on Saturday Lisa Eder was third, yesterday Kramer moved up from tenth to second place.
Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (SC Waldzell) finished eleventh and ninth in the individual competitions. “It’s not quite what I’ve got yet. But it’s getting nice and slow again, we’re attacking,” emphasized the Schildornerin, who, like Kramer, had missed the Winter Games because of Corona.
Next year there will be another home game in Hinzenbach – then with spectator participation.
Source: Nachrichten
