18-year-old Pole amazes the ski jumping world — Adam Małysz: “He’s cut from different cloth”

Poland has a promising new leader in ski jumping: 18-year-old Kacper Tomasiak. In his debut at an event of this level, he was the top Pole at the Summer Grand Prix finale in Klingenthal, finishing 8th. This result capped a strong off‑season in which he also won the overall Summer Continental Cup.

Polish Ski Association president Adam Małysz lauded Tomasiak’s mentality and technique. According to Małysz, the youngster appears emotionally composed on the start bar, understands where he is in his development, and knows what he is aiming for—podiums in the World Cup, World Championships, and the Olympic Games. Małysz believes Tomasiak is “cut from different cloth,” suggesting psychological resilience that could help him withstand rising expectations in Poland.

Małysz cautioned that fluctuations can happen at age 18 but emphasized Tomasiak’s form is no accident, noting a broader group of emerging Polish jumpers. He expects that once Tomasiak breaks into the World Cup team, he can stay there, especially given his technique.

Kamil Stoch briefly shone in Klingenthal—7th after the first jump—but tightened up in the second attempt. Małysz said Stoch still battles the issues that have plagued recent years and pushes too hard at times; when he remains calm, he can be top‑5 and then a bit of luck brings the podium. Piotr Żyła (18th) and Dawid Kubacki (19th) finished just ahead of Stoch (20th), while Paweł Wąsek and Aleksander Zniszczoł missed the second round.

Małysz pointed to new suit regulations as particularly challenging for some athletes, especially Wąsek, as they force a technique closer to earlier styles with more push. With Olympic roster spots in play and entry lists closing around 18 January, Małysz expects decisions to run late and to favor those who distinguish themselves in early winter. He also urged patience with other talents such as Tomasz Pilch and Jan Habdas, whose high potential has yet to fully unlock, noting that in ski jumping “sometimes something just clicks.”