Prevc prevails to win wind-impacted Large Hill World title

Reigning Crystal Globe holder Nika Prevc (SLO) continued her domination of the 2024/25 season by securing her second individual title, and third medal, at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Norway.

The 19-year-old won the Normal Hill title in the first ski jumping event of Trondheim 2025 and secured silver as part of Slovenia’s Mixed Team line-up on Wednesday. 

Her latest success, which sees her become the first woman in history to win the Normal and Large Hill gold medals at the same World Championships, came after the cancellation of the second round.

Pre-event predictions that the weather could impact the last women’s ski jumping event of Trondheim 2025 proved to be accurate.

Prevc took victory with a jump of 134.5, which secured her 150.9 points, with German Selina Freitag (131m / 136.7pts) second and Eirin Maria Kvandal of host nation Norway (136m / 132.4pts) taking bronze.

“I actually didn’t want to believe it at first as I really wanted to wait for the decision to be official but after (it was confirmed) I just got so happy,” said Prevc, after her latest success.

“We will never know what would have happened in the second round, but I can believe in myself that it would have been a strong jump.”

Five athletes were able to jump from the Granåsen Large Hill for a second time, but the distances they achieved varied drastically, between 67m and 133.5m.

USA’s Annika Belshaw achieved the longer distance and was keen for the competition to continue.

“I was okay, I knew there was wind, but I wanted to jump far and I think it’s more about focusing on what you’re going to do on the jump and keep to the basics,” she said during a wind-related interval in the competition.

“I for sure hope it will continue and I think there’s definitely some strong wind so I hope it dies down to make it a little bit fairer.”

After another delay and further debate, the jury concluded that the conditions meant it was not possible to maintain ‘fairness’ within the competition and as a result the standings from the first round would be used to determine the final placings.

Heidi Dyhre Traaserud (NOR) gave fans from the host nation reason to cheer early in the opening round with a strong start and early lead, before she was replaced by the impressive Nozomi Maruyama (JPN), who hit 128m and took a 21.8 point lead.

World junior champion Ingvild Synnoeve Midtskogen (NOR) also looked well-placed, before she suffered the same fate as had played out in the Normal Hill competition, where she was disqualified. 

Defending champion Alexandria Loutitt (CAN) when into third with her effort of 119m, but there were still nine to go and even before the second round was cancelled, her hopes of retaining the historic title she claimed two years ago, looked over.

Jacqueline Seifriedsberger (AUT) and Katharina Schmid (GER) also looked disappointed with their efforts in the opening round.

Selina Freitag (GER), Anna Odine Stroem (NOR), Eva Pinkelnig (AUT) and Kvandal (NOR) celebrated loudly after landing their respective jumps though, which gave them all hope of pushing for the podium in the second round.

Prevc was held for just short of the maximum allotted time and her coaching team looked on nervously as she left the gate, aware the weather could work against her.

However, as she has so often shown this season the Slovenian can seemingly master any set of conditions and delivered what turned out to be her eighth successive individual victory, after a World Cup ‘triple double’, heading into Trondheim 2025.

“I think it’s the right decision as the wind is changing so much and it’s so strong it would have been dangerous to jump in the second round,” said four-time World champion and Olympic gold medalist, turned analyst, Martin Schmitt (GER).

“The girls knew what was at stake before the competition as it was forecast that the wind might get stronger so they had to be read in the first round and Nika for sure was ready. 

“It was a really amazing jump in a difficult situation for her which was fantastic and a well-deserved victory for her and Slovenia again.

“Freitag with silver and the bronze for Kvandal, they both had absolutely brilliant jumps in difficult performances.

Schmitt continues; “I’m sure Eva (Pinkelnig) and Anna (Odine Stroem) were disappointed they didn’t have the chance to fight for the medals in the second round, but the wind was just too strong and the jury had to cancel it.”

FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (NOR) - Program:

8 March
14:15 – Start Qualification Men's LH
15.45 – Competition Start Men's LH