Stefan Kraft keeps promises to his wife

Stefan Kraft finished the World Cup season in Planica yesterday in third place behind the Slovenians Timi Zajc and Anze Lanisek. A season that lasted as long as it did and 148 days earlier in Wisla had also started with a third place for Salzburg. Kraft had amassed a total of 17 podium finishes last winter, including six victories. He celebrated the last one on Saturday in Planica, which brought about a preliminary decision in the fight for the crystal ball in ski flying. “Mega, a small ball again, the third in ski flying, that’s unbelievable,” said the 29-year-old, who ultimately won the discipline classification 30 points ahead of overall World Cup winner Halvor Egner Granerud (North).

Kraft was on 238.5 and 235 meters – Jan Hörl came fifth as the second best Austrian – yesterday. Despite the long season, he hasn’t had enough of long flights, he wants to take “a little trip around the world” during the upcoming season break. It’s a promise to his wife that he keeps. “If I ever win a gold medal at the Olympics, then we’ll fly around the world,” promised Kraft, who wants to clear his head in the six weeks provided for this. “I really needed that because it was very intense.” The travel fund is well filled, as the high-flyer collected 310,000 euros in prize money in the past season.

After winning the Nations Cup, head coach Andreas Widholzl was satisfied with 1462 points ahead of Norway: “It was a great finish and confirmation for the team.”