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Andreas Wellinger in the air in Bad Mitterndorf
Photo: Christian Bruna / EPA
Ski jumper Andreas Wellinger won a medal at the Ski Flying World Championships at the Kulm in Bad Mitterndorf. The 28-year-old German flew 229 meters in the third and final round on Saturday, improving from fourth place to silver. Austria's top favorite Stefan Kraft won the World Cup title. Timi Zajc from Slovenia fell from first place to third place and took bronze.
After the first two flights on Friday, Wellinger was also behind the Norwegian Johann Andre Forfang, but clearly overtook him with his strong flight. Wellinger's teammates Stephan Leyhe (10th place), Karl Geiger (19th) and Pius Paschke (23rd) celebrated directly in the run-out with the Olympic champion, who won an individual medal at a World Aviation Championships for the first time.
A fourth round did not take place due to the weather. The start had been postponed several times because of the wind. Then it got too dark. There is no floodlight at the Kulm.
Team flying is on the program on Sunday (2 p.m.; TV: ZDF). Germany wants to win another medal, but is an outsider against the strong Slovenes, hosts Austria and Norway.
aha/dpa