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Oberstdorf (dpa) - The anthem for Germany's ski jumping heroes had barely faded away when the Oberstdorf Schanzen Festival came to an end with a colorful laser show and roaring Ballermann music.
Local hero Karl Geiger proudly had his fourth medal worn on his back in his home country, but this gold coup in the team was also something very special for buddy Markus Eisenbichler, returnee Severin Freund and World Cup debutant Pius Paschke.
«I'm so proud of my boys.
That was our goal, ”said Stefan Horngacher, whose first World Cup as Germany's head coach ended with a total of four medals and lots of happiness.
The team success on the large hill in front of Austria and Poland turned into a thriller, but giant Geiger once again kept his nerve and, after the mixed team, also led the men's quartet as goalkeeper to defend their title in the Allgäu.
"We'll really enjoy that today," announced the 28-year-old major event specialist.
With four world championship medals, the title at the ski flying world championship, an individual tour victory in his home town of Oberstdorf and second place overall on the tour, he is the big winner this winter.
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With strong nerves and cool, this is how the whole quartet presented themselves in the wonderfully snow-covered mountain idyll on Saturday.
Paschke became world champion for the first time when he was 30.
«This is really madness.
It's the most emotional ski jumping day I've ever experienced, ”said the newcomer to the World Cup.
Captain and goalkeeper Geiger, who this time defeated Dawid Kubacki and Stefan Kraft in the final, was dubbed “a machine” by Paschke.
"He always delivers when it counts."
This is exactly how it was in the past eight turbulent World Cup days under Corona conditions.
Eisenbichler hit back in the singles one day after his fall and showed two outstanding jumps.
The thanks also went to his girlfriend, who had set it up over the phone on Friday evening.
“I just like these team competitions, we travel together all year round.
I see my teammates more than my girlfriend, ”said the 29-year-old Bavarian, who successfully defended two of his three 2019 titles.
With a total of six World Cup gold medals, he is now on a par with ski jumping legends like Matti Nykänen from Finland or Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer.
The 32-year-old veteran friend, who returned to the World Cup stage six years after his coup from Falun and is now at the top again, was also enthusiastic.
"You can guess what it means to me after all this time," said the oldest of the quartet.
The victory is “mega” and “unbelievable”.
Eisenbichler even explicitly highlighted Freund "as a role model" and said: "I'm very happy for him."
A day like this shows for «Eisei» why he likes this sport so much.
"I jump up the hill with a couple of guys and at the end the accounts are settled."
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