Karl Geiger achieves a breakthrough – but it comes too late for the Olympics. The DSV eagle enjoys and struggles at the same time.
Karl Geiger fully enjoyed the party on the 100th birthday of the Mühlenkopfschanze, but made no secret of his mixed feelings. “It’s a very special moment. I’m incredibly happy, relieved, and grateful that I managed to do this,” said Geiger after his third place at the German home World Cup in Willingen.
It was a bombshell, a breakthrough – and yet it was also a bittersweet moment. Because after his dip in form this season, the exceptional ski jumper had not been nominated for the Olympics. “The Olympic blow still stings. Three weeks ago I would have said I wouldn’t have lost anything there,” explained Geiger, then added tellingly: “Now it looks a bit different.”
Karl Geiger found his form too late for the Olympics
Geiger confesses: “It’s a great pity”
His postscript offered a small glimpse into Geiger’s inner thoughts. “It’s a great pity,” the 32-year-old admitted openly, but also bowed to the facts: “There’s simply a deadline and I didn’t make it by then. So I’ll take it as it is.”
It’s quite curious: The previous week, it was Luis Vogt at the Hahnenkamm race on the legendary Streif in Kitzbühel who met the Olympic norm too late with an eighth-place finish. Now, five-time ski jumping world champion Geiger delivered when the decision had already been made. In his Willingen form, he could certainly have been trusted to win a fourth Olympic medal.
By the way: Alongside Geiger, Andreas Wellinger, another athlete who had been struggling, showed a clear upward trend in form, finishing sixth. The difference: Wellinger is allowed to start at the Olympics.
Geiger, however, tries to focus on the positive. When asked if it was the most significant third place of his career, he replied clearly: “I would definitely say so.”
A clear sense of satisfaction was palpable.
Geiger honest: “I only got beaten up”
“I started the season and just got beaten up. But the last two weeks have been very productive and effective, I’ve made steps in the right direction,” explained Geiger.
Felix Hoffmann, the second-best German behind Geiger in fourth place, also suspects a mental effect on Geiger. “After the Olympic decision, he seems liberated,” Hoffmann told SPORT1 , adding: “The situation is still extremely bitter for Karl, of course.”
Geiger trusts Hoffmann a lot: “He should go full throttle”
Geiger, in turn, acts as a fair sportsman and now crosses his fingers for the other DSV eagles at the Olympics in Northern Italy. He trusts Hoffmann a lot in particular. “He’s had a very good season. I believe he can rely on that and concentrate,” Geiger said when asked by SPORT1 : “And when it comes down to it at the Olympic Games, no one has precious metal beforehand. You can seize this chance, Felix should go full throttle.”
At the Olympics, things start on Thursday, 24 hours before the opening ceremony, with the first official training on the normal hill in Predazzo. The first competition is on the following Monday – with Geiger as a spectator.