Ammann Wins Gold At Nordic Worlds
Switzerland's Simon Ammann won the large hill ski jumping gold medal Saturday at the Nordic World Ski Championships.
Ammann had jumps of 125 meters and 134.5 meters for 266.1 points on the 134-meter hill to hold off a charge by Finland's Harri Olli, who had the longest jump of 136.5, but finished second with 265.9 points.
Ammann, who won the normal and large hill gold medals at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, led after the first round and his second jump sealed the medal.
"My heart started beating after I heard Olli had a jump of 136 meters," Ammann said. "I was happy when I could go fast out of the gate. I did a good jump. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough to win."
Roar Ljoekelsoey was third with 262.9 points after jumps of 123 and 135 meters. Olli was second going into the final round after a first jump of 124 meters.
Olli took the result in his stride.
"It doesn't matter if you lose by 0.2 points or 10 points," he said. "I guess I have to work on my landings."
Norway's Anders Jacobsen, who leads the World Cup standings, had a disappointing first jump of just 114.5 meters and couldn't make up ground after a second jump of 122.5 meters.
Ammann said winning the gold proves he still has what it takes to win the big events.
"Of course, the golds I won in Salt Lake City are the highlight of my career," he said. "But to come here and win a gold at this point in my career is very statisfying."
Earlier, Axel Teichmann edged fellow German Tobias Angerer to win the men's 30-kilometer pursuit race.
Teichmann crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 35.8 seconds. Angerer was 0.5 seconds behind. Turin Olympic bronze medalist Pietro Piller Cottrer of Italy was third in 1:11:36.7.
Turin silver medalist Frode Estil of Norway finished 17th.
The 2007 championships are first as an independent event in Asia. In 1972, when the Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo, the event doubled as the FIS World Ski Championships.
Germany has four medals in the Feb. 22-March 4 meet. Norway leads with five.