Domen Prevc soars to new ski jumping record
Slovenia ski jumper Domen Prevc capped a stellar season by setting a new world record of 254.5 metres on the giant hill in Planica, to the delight of thousands of fans who flocked to the Slovenian cradle of ski jumping.
Prevc improved the previous record, set by Austria's Stefan Kraft in Vikersund in 2017, by a metre in what was the final event of the season, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
"The final jump in Planica. To go to bed with this and into the new season - almost unbelievable," said Prevc, who, mid flight, had been contemplating a telemark landing but decided for the safer option of a deep squat instead.
Record not enough
Despite the record, the 25-year-old did not win the event. That honour went to another Slovenian, Anže Lanišek.
Lanišek, touching down at 247.5 metres in the first round and at 241.5 metres in the final round, was able to perform telemark landings, earning more points.
He bagged his first individual victory at the home venue with 482.1 points, 7.1 points ahead of Prevc. Andreas Wellinger of Germany was third.
"Unbelievable, hats off to Domen! I had to wait at the top for a long while, but I managed to calm my nerves," said Lanišek, who was the last jumper still at the top when Prevc broke the record, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
"This has been a crazy day. Thank you to the fans for coming to cheer us on," Lanišek said.
"I couldn't have asked for more. A personal record with telemark, a crazy day for me as well. We've divided it up nicely with Domen."
Lanišek is fourth overall this season and in second place in the ski flying leaderboards.
The Prevc dynasty
Domen Prevc comes from a veritable ski jumping dynasty.
His brother Peter was the first man to fly over 250 metres, breaking the world record in 2015. He won a number of world championships and also an Olympic gold medal. He finished competing last year with a tally of 36 World Cup wins.
Their little sister Nika is the best woman jumper, having won the overall title for the second year in a row - and with a new world record to boot.
This is the first time in ski jumping history that siblings hold the men's and women's world records.
