Ski jumping star Stoch may miss FIS World Cup

WARSAW, Jan. 11– Three-time Olympic champion Kamil Stoch’s performance at the FIS World Cup in Zakopane, Poland remains in question after he caught the flu, Poland’s team doctor Aleksander Winiarski said on Wednesday. The most titled ski jumper in Poland’s history is racing against time as the competition at Wielka Krokiew hill in Zakopane is scheduled for…

WARSAW, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) — Three-time Olympic champion Kamil Stoch’s performance at the FIS World Cup in Zakopane, Poland remains in question after he caught the flu, Poland’s team doctor Aleksander Winiarski said on Wednesday.

The most titled ski jumper in Poland’s history is racing against time as the competition at Wielka Krokiew hill in Zakopane is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

“Kamil is struggling with a strong flu infection… The first symptoms of the disease appeared on the trip from the 4-Hills-Tournament, and he fell ill immediately after returning from Austria,” Winiarski was quoted as saying by Polish media.

“He is very weak. He also had a high temperature. This is a time when many people have similar symptoms. Fortunately, he is the only one member of Thomas Thurnbichler’s team who has health problems,” Winiarski added.

It was believed that the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games may have been the last big event for Stoch, but the 34-year-old, who hopes to recover before his comeback on home soil, doesn’t think about retirement.

“I have everything to still develop my skills. I’m fully focused on the present and I enjoy every step forward. I hope to jump up to the level presented by the 4-Hills Tournament winner, Halvor Egner Granerud, who is very strong physically and mentally,” the ski jumper commented. Enditem