Malysz Double Delights

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There was little doubt that the high-pedigree Polish Eagle was going to win today after his bird-of-prey-like first round flight of 132-metres.

Fourth-last to ping down the scenic launch at Zakopane the Pole instantly took the lead by a full 11 points over Roar Ljoekelsoey, the Norwegian who tied him for victory on Saturday.

Malysz's almighty leap was almost five-metres to the better of the Norwegian's 127.5-metre offering, and subsequent competitors Martin Hoellwarth and Jakub Janda failed to reach the lofty heights of that trademark handle-bar moustache.

Only Janne Ahonen, decidedly off the boil in recent weeks, got anywhere near to threatening Malysz, but even then, the Finn's 128.5-metre leap virtually put him out of the reckoning.

Yes, it seemed like the others would be fighting it out for second place. It would be a fight highly welcomed by the fervent Pole fans, relishing their national icon with as much relish as a Harvester hamburger special.

The second round seemed a formality. After unconvincing performances yet again from Janda, Hoellwarth and Morgenstern, unheralded Lars Bystoel of Norway took the lead from Germany's Michael Uhrmann.

Then the main business began. First, Ljoekelsoey flew a grand 131.5-metre trajectory to move into the lead on 268.7 points.

Janne Ahonen then kept his World Cup points tally brimming by snatching the hot-seat, bettering the Norwegian Lion with a 132-metre spectacle, 270.9 points in total.

But these minor distractions were just the preliminaries to the main event. Scheduled Flight PK1 Adam Malysz left behind the departure lounge at top speed to cut through the air with concord precision, coming to earth 132-metres down the Zakopine runway to the delight of the local masses.

A combined points total of 278.2 was simply ambrosial.

The man with the ironic facial hair may look like one of the "Village People" but when he slaps down his skis after high-altitude probing he sure does know how to whip up a party to rival the YMCA!

Arms aloft, grin as wide as a Cheshire cat, an ecstatic Malysz took to the microphone to thank the hoards of adoring home fans.

It was a great way to finish this memorable weekend's ski jumping, and endearingly fitting that the tremendous Polish spectators could be rewarded for their hospitability, their clear love of the sport and their vibrant singing with a Malysz win.

He loved it, they loved it, and as a result we all loved it!

Conversely, Ahonen's second place made it three events without a win for the Finn. His second place today, however, was a better show than his last two apperances where he failed to reach the podium.

The World Cup standings leader is seemingly suffering from a lack of training, brought about, on one hand, by his health - Ahonen is still suffering from the after effects of the flu which ruled him out at Bad Mitterndorf - and, on the other, by the lack of snow in Finland.

"It's starting to show that I haven't practiced for three weeks," he told Finnish media after Saturday's fourth place.

That might well be the case, but today's second behind Malysz is nothing to be ashamed of.

Malysz, himself, might as well have said to the Polish media that: "It's starting to show that I'm moving into a truly rich vein of form."

The Flying Moustache's weekend double sees him reach four World Cup wins in total this season.

He also moves above Jakub Janda and Martin Hoellwarth into second in the overall World Cup standings.

Ahonen leads on 1526 points, with Malysz on 994, Janda on 979, Hoellwarth on 936 and Ljoekelsoey on 918.

If the eventual winner is all but decided, the battle for second is beginning to heat up.

But with Malysz in his present form, it's hard to see past the Pole for overall silver.

Source: Eurosport

Jan.31.2005



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