In a surprising turn of events, Olympic ski jumping gold medalist Andreas Wellinger has been excluded from the German national squad for the highly anticipated Ski Flying World Championships, which are set to take place on home turf in Oberstdorf.
Following two rigorous training sessions conducted on Thursday, head coach Stefan Horngacher made the final decision regarding the team roster. His chosen athletes include Philipp Raimund, Felix Hoffmann, Pius Paschke, and Karl Geiger. Horngacher emphasized that the paramount consideration in his selection process was the caliber of each jumper's performance, describing the decision as a difficult one due to the extremely close competition among the athletes. He further noted that extensive discussions preceded the final announcement.
The athletes selected have successfully secured their spots among the top 40 competitors for the individual men's event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday. World Cup leader Domen Prevc demonstrated his dominance by leading the qualification rounds. For Wellinger, a seasoned athlete at 30 years old, this exclusion represents a significant setback in his journey toward the upcoming Olympic Games. While there remains a theoretical possibility for him to participate in the team competition on Sunday, his chances are considered to be very low given the current circumstances.
This unexpected roster change has sent ripples through the ski jumping community, leaving many to ponder the implications for Wellinger's future Olympic prospects and the dynamics of the German team as they head into a major championship event on their home soil.