Stoch retains title at the death

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, Feb 17, (AFP): Poland’s Kamil Stoch produced a clutch final jump of 136.5 metres to retain his Olympic title in a cliff-hanging men’s large hill ski jump final Saturday.

Stoch’s team mates hoisted the 30-year-old onto their shoulders after he pipped Andreas Wellinger at the death, preventing the German from capturing his second gold medal Sochi double four years ago.

“It’s unbelievable, I can’t describe this feeling right now inside me,” said Stoch.

“I feel like I’m still dreaming but this is a beautiful dream so I don’t want to wake up.”

Wellinger had to settle for silver this time after his upset victory on the normal hill, despite pulling off a monster leap of 142.0 metres.

It gave him 282.3 points but left him still short of Stoch’s winning total of 285.7 as the bronze went to Norway’s Robert Johansson, who also finished third in the normal hill.

“I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to all my team-mates, especially the coaches, because they create the opportunities for us to achieve what we can,” added Stoch.

“I just wanted to make my best jumps here on, especially on the big hill, and I think I did that.”

Behind Johansson, who has also lit up social media with his gloriously bushy moustache, fellow Norwegians Andre-Daniel Tande and Johann Andre Forfang, runner-up in the normal hill, rounded out the top five.

Reigning world champion Stefan Kraft slumped to 18th place while Japan’s Noriaki Kasai, who was appearing in a record eighth Winter Games, failed to make the final in what could be the 45-year-old cult hero’s Olympic farewell.