Slovenian ski jumpers score double victory at World Cup in Poland

The start of the season continues to look great for Slovenian ski jumpers as Nika Prevc and Nika Vodan have scored a double victory at the women's Ski Jumping World Cup event in Wisla, Poland.

This marks the second win for Prevc this season and the first podium finish for Vodan since her 2024 injury, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The reigning two-time World Cup champion and the world record holder, Prevc accumulated 259.7 points at the event on 5 December for what is her 24th career World Cup victory, which ties her with her older brother Peter Prevc for the most career wins for a Slovenian jumper.

At the previous event in Wisla on 4 December, Prevc was disqualified because her skis were one centimetre too long for her weight, so she was even more laser-focused to secure a good result the following day.

"I'm very happy with my performance today. I managed to make good jumps. Not even the good final jump by my teammate Nika [Vodan] scared me, because I am a big fan of her," Prevc said in her first statement to the press after dominating both rounds of competition. The 20-year-old is happy to see Vodan coming back from her injury.

Vodan, 25, who was first in the qualifying round, achieved two more good jumps to score 246.9 points and secure her first podium finish since her comeback.

"I'm speechless, to be honest. My dreams have come true. A lot of effort has been put in, and it has all paid off," Vodan told TV Slovenija, adding that what has also come true is the dream of sharing the podium with Prevc.

Joining the two Slovenians on the podium was Norway's Eirin Maria Kvandal in third place (239.5 points).

"It was an excellent day for us. Both Nikas proved in the first and second rounds that they are very consistent and jumping very well," Slovenia's coach Jurij Tepeš said, adding the team are now focused on their next World Cup events in Germany's Klingenthal on 13 and 14 December.

Prevc sits second in the women's overall rankings, 134 points behind the current leader, Japan's Nozomi Maruyama.

Things are looking great for Slovenians in the men's competition too, as Anže Lanišek leads in the rankings while his teammate Domen Prevc, another member of the Prevc ski jumping dynasty, is currently second. They will have a chance to collect additional podium finishes this weekend as Wisla hosts two events for male ski jumpers.

Photo: Bor Slana/STA