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OSLO, Norway (Feb. 25, via release) – Austria’s Daniela Iraschko emerged through the heavy fog and wind to take the gold medal in the second World Championships ever to allow women to compete in ski jumping. Italy’s Elena Runggaldier captured silver and France’s Coline Mattel took the bronze. 

It wasn’t the bluebird day that elite women ski jumpers and their supporters from around the world had hoped for at the World Championships. Jumpers said they could barely see their coaches wave the start flag and could only hear, not see, the more than 8,000 spectators that came out to watch the event. Some called the conditions, "unbelievably difficult."

The top Visa Team member Friday was Jessica Jerome who finished 14th with jumps of 84 and 90 meters. Sarah Hendrickson finished 16th with jumps of 90.5 and 84 meters, Alissa Johnson was 20th with 91 and 81 meters; Abby Hughes was 24th with 86.5 and 83 meters; and Lindsey Van finished 34th after not making it to the second round.

Johnson, who was 7th after the first round, said the conditions were as bad as she’s ever seen. “I couldn’t see anything and I could barely hear anything. It was a bizarre feeling, but I had a job to do. I was happy with my first jump. My second jump, I was definitely nervous, but still having a good time.”

Lindsey Van, inaugural women’s champion in 2009, did not make the second round. She said she had a good jump, but got caught in a wicked side wind. “I can't believe they sent me down in that. But that's the way it is. That's the sport. Obviously I'm not psyched." 

The International Olympic Committee was paying close attention to Friday’s competition. The IOC is “looking favorably” at adding a women’s ski jumping event to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games program. International Ski Federation President Gian-Franco Kasper was spotted in the crowd watching the jumpers and several large groups sported signs in support of allowing women ski jumpers to compete in Sochi 2014.

“The announcer just kept saying how important this competition was because of the pending IOC decision and that for these women to jump as well as they did in these conditions was very respectable,” said Vic Method, Women’s Ski Jumping USA vice president.

Sarah Hendrickson, 2010 Junior Worlds bronze medalist, said the winds were hard to deal with and were all over the place, but felt her jumps were technically not that bad. “It was a little intimidating, but it’s an outdoor sport and we have to take what we can get,” said Hendrickson who donned the words, “Wish it, Dream it, Do it” on her gloves.

Abby Hughes, who is competing in her first World Championships, said she didn’t think they had jumped in conditions as “crazy” as this before – even with the wind shields up on the in-run. “ I couldn’t see Kjell (Magnussen, coach) and I just had to listen for his whistle. But I could hear the crowd and it was an amazing experience.”

Hughes had written “Love You Brother” on her gloves to show support for her sibling, Blake, who is also a ski jumper but never made it to the World Championships. She grew up wanting to be a jumper like him. “He saw it on TV and texted me back and said, ‘Love you too.’”

Deedee Corradini, WSJ-USA president, was in the stands with a group of American supporters who agreed that the unpredictable wind was the true unknown factor, especially for the second round. “But as a whole it was a good, close competition and there was certainly universality and that is a very good thing.” 

2011 World Ski Jumping Championships

Oslo, Norway

Feb. 25, 2011

Women’s HS106

1. Daniela Iraschko, AUT, (97, 97) 231.7 points

2. Elena Runggaldier, ITA, (97.5, 93.5) 218.9 points

3. Coline Mattel, FRA, (92, 97) 211.5 points

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14. Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT) (84, 90) 177.8

16. Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT) (90.5, 84) 177

20. Alissa Johnson (Park City, UT) (91, 81) 169

24. Abby Hughes (Park City, UT) (86.5, 83) 156.5

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Did not qualify for second round

34. Lindsey Van (Park City, UT) (75)

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The Visa Women’s Ski Jumping Team is sponsored and organized by Women’s Ski Jumping USA, a 501c3 nonprofit foundation. To learn more, go to www.wsjusa.com.

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