JWSC: Walcher defends Junior World Championship title
Feb 15, 2025·Nordic Combined)
The highly anticipated men’s Individual Gundersen competition at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships 2025 delivered an exciting battle under clear blue skies in which Austria’s Paul Walcher successfully defended his 2024 title with a stunning comeback performance.
Narita leads after Ski Jumping
Japan’s Atsushi Narita set the early benchmark, soaring 94.5 meters—the longest jump of the day—on the MacKenzie Intervale HS100. His jump earned him 120.5 points, securing the top spot going into the cross-country segment.
Close behind was his compatriot Kyotaro Yamazaki, who landed a 93-meter jump, scoring 119.8 points. This placed him just three seconds behind Narita at the start of the race. Austria’s Paul Walcher matched Narita’s distance of 94.5 meters but accumulated 115.9 points, placing him in third, 18 seconds off the leader’s pace.
Walcher’s impressive comeback
Determined to bridge the gap, Walcher skied a relentless race, gradually closing in on the Japanese duo. He overtook Yamazaki first, as the latter struggled to maintain his early position. With a powerful final lap, the Austrian surged past Narita, securing his second consecutive Junior World Championship title.
Despite losing the lead, Narita showcased his endurance and composure, finishing in second place to claim the silver medal. Meanwhile, Germany’s Richard Stenzel made an extraordinary charge from sixth place after the Ski Jumping round to secure bronze, rounding out the podium.
Walcher’s triumph cements his status as one of the most promising young athletes in Nordic Combined, while Narita and Stenzel’s performances hint at an exciting future for the sport.
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