– It was absolutely magical – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

– It was absolutely magical. I’m pretty high on adrenaline right now. I just stood on top and couldn’t stop smiling, said Silje Opseth after landing 186.5 meters in her first training jump. It was the longest jump of the first half, in what became a historic race. Opseth won the first training round in Vikersund. The battle to jump in the biggest ski jumps in the world has been a long one for the women. It is almost two decades since Anette Sagen took on Torbjørn Yggeseth and the rest of the international jumping committee. – It’s big Finally, she got to jump as a test jumper, and landed a respectable 174 metres. But the fight to get an official ski flying competition had to be taken over from Sagen by Maren Lundby. – It was incredibly cool. Absolutely raw, quite simply. Although it was quite short, it was a great experience. Now the first jump is done, and it’s lovely, says Lundby after jumping 131.5 metres. In 2021, she and the other ski jumpers were pushed through for the big hill to be part of the WC for the first time. In 2023, Lundby is one of the main characters who has pushed the most to take a new step, and to have an official competition in ski flying carried out. – It is big. There is no doubt about that. I am incredibly grateful that I am here, says Opseth. It finally happened this weekend, and on Saturday morning the women completed their very first training session in ski flying. – They were not tough But the athletes were not satisfied with the low speed that was set in the half. – I hope we can get better speed, because no one was over 200 metres. I think we should manage that, says Anna Odine Strøm. – What do you think of the speed now? – There should be more. I understand that they will be a little cautious at first. – Was the jury a coward? – They weren’t tough, she asserts. Show jumping manager Clas Brede Bråthen believes it is pointless if they don’t increase speed now. – I think both the athletes and the jury were a bit cautious. It’s fine at first. Then we have to start letting the girls practice flying. – So you expect more speed? – Everything else would have been pointless, he believes. There are still two jumps left in the training round for all jumpers.



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