German media deliver harsh verdict after Wisła: “Total collapse” of leaders Geiger and Wellinger

German ski jumping suffered a shock at the World Cup stop in Wisła. Two of the team’s biggest stars, Karl Geiger and Andreas Wellinger, delivered performances so poor that German media spoke of a “total collapse of the leaders,” as reported by Merkur.de.

Geiger, a former ski flying world champion, did not even make it through qualification—56th place in Wisła eliminated him from the individual event and symbolized an ongoing crisis. His best result of the current season so far has only been 23rd in Lillehammer. Wellinger fared little better: 43rd in qualifying underlined that the Olympic medalist has lost the stability and confidence that used to define him.

Both athletes voiced their frustration. “It was a big step back. I didn’t expect this after training at home; I’m really irritated,” said Geiger. Wellinger echoed him: “The jumps work only selectively. I’m irritated right now, but in a career you often experience that things don’t go as you want.”

Head coach Stefan Horngacher tried to calm the mood. “We knew they wouldn’t be in optimal shape at the start of winter,” he said after qualifying. Still, in Germany there is little doubt: such a deep slump among the leaders hasn’t been seen for years.

Paradoxically, a new generation is blooming in their shadow. Philipp Raimund shone in Wisła with the performance of his life, taking an outstanding second place. Pius Paschke and Felix Hoffmann also broke into the top ten, and it is this trio—not Geiger and Wellinger—currently pulling the German team upward and fueling hopes ahead of the Olympic winter.

The Wisła competition brutally exposed the form collapse of Germany’s two biggest names. With the Olympics getting closer, roles within the German squad could change faster than the reputations attached to their names.