Ski jumping: the golden eagle for Daniel Tschofenig
Late on Monday afternoon, when Stefan Kraft, the last jumper to take off in the final round of the kings’ competition in Bischofshofen (Austria), was waiting at the top of the Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze for the wind to return to the corridor, Daniel Tschofenig was leading the 73rd Four Hills Tournament.
Fifth after the first run, he landed after 140.5 metres of flight in the final. That was enough to overtake Jan Hoerl and take the lead overall. The rest of the story is simple: Stefan Kraft lost his footing and, at 137.5 metres, finished third in the competition, leaving the Golden Eagle to Daniel Tschofenig.

“It’s indescribable, I really don’t know what to say, he said afterwards in the mixed zone. So much has happened, I really can’t believe it, but it’s magnificent. To be completely honest, I didn’t believe it, I didn’t think I had a chance [of winning]. It’s really indescribable.”
A magical tour
Daniel Tschofenig achieved the feat of his career under the eyes of his partner Alexandria Loutitt, who had travelled from Villach (Austria) where she was competing earlier in the day.
“Inwardly, I knew I had a chance of making the Tour, that was already clear in Engelberg, but I didn’t really want to admit it, he recalls. I knew I had to jump well to do it. Oberstdorf was such a start that I wrote it off. I told myself it was over [he was more than 10 points off the lead, editor’s note]. In Garmisch, it was great to be in yellow [and to win], but then I had trouble with the jump in Innsbruck. I was saved by my third place.”

In Bischofshofen, the Austrian took a while to find his rhythm. It was only during the competition that he managed to jump far. As if by magic. “Something clicked and I knew what to do. I just kept going”, he enthuses. Until he became the first Austrian to win the Four Hills Tournament in ten years.
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