Olympics Ski Jumping Men’s Team medal results, highlights and more

Ski jumping concluded its Olympic calendar on Monday in Pyeongchang. The world’s top eight national teams battled it out in the men’s team competition.

During the first four Olympic cycles of the 21st century, Germany and Austria dominated team ski jumping. The Germans entered the 2018 Winter Olympics as the defending champions. Austria had claimed the gold in 2006 and 2010. Before that, Germany was on the top step of the podium at Salt Lake City in 2002.

This time around, however, the door opened for a new champion to emerge. Norway, which has been so dominant across the board in the Pyeongchang Winter Games, claimed yet another gold medal to increase their lead in the total medal count. Holding off Germany and Poland, the Norwegians won Olympic gold for the first time in the men’s team ski jumping event.

Finland, which once dominated the competition in the team event, passed the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the final round to avoid finishing dead last. It was small consolation for the first-ever gold medalist in this event back in 1988.

Also finishing off the podium was Austria. For just the third time in nine attempts, the Austrians finished outside the top three in the team competition. What was more shocking was how far behind the third-place Germans that Austria finished. By the end of the four jumps in the finals, the Austrians were nearly 100 points behind their longtime rivals.

The usual suspects were upended by upstart teams.

Where things really got interesting was in the battle for silver. Germany and Poland traded second position back and forth. On the final jump, German ski jumper Andreas Wellinger put in a huge 140-meter jump. But with individual large hill gold medalist Kamil Stoch still to go, the Germans were forced to wait.

Stoch’s jump didn’t go as far, and his score was 2.8 points lower than that put up by Wellinger. But it was enough to retain second position, as Poland claimed silver by just 0.6 points after eight jumps.

Robert Johansson jumped last, taking flight to secure gold for Norway. The bronze medalist on both the normal hill and large hill put in one more impressive performance to close out the ski jumping program at the 2018 Winter Olympics in style. In an Olympiad so far dominated by Norwegians, the Scandinavian powerhouse claimed yet another victory.

Next: What’s the difference between Ski Jumping & Freestyle Skiing?

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