Maruyama lands maiden World Cup win in Lillehammer

Japan’s strong start to the 2025/26 season continued as Nozomi Maruyama claimed the first individual FIS Ski Jumping World Cup victory of her career in Lillehammer.

Fresh off winning the FIS Grand Prix series during the summer and contributing to Japan’s Mixed Team World Cup win on Friday, Maruyama led by 7.6 points after the first round and extended her advantage with an outstanding second jump. She finished with 285.5 points, the only woman to clear 130 m in both rounds (133.5 m for 150.7 pts in round one and 130.5 m for 134.8 pts in round two).

Canada’s Abigail Strate secured her best World Cup result in nearly two years, placing second with 259.7 points after a 129 m opening jump and a 121 m final. Austria’s Lisa Eder, returning to form and carrying Austria’s podium hopes amid Jacqueline Seifriedsberger’s retirement and Eva Pinkelnig’s injury, climbed to third with 255.4 points after a composed 125.5 m final jump.

Reigning Crystal Globe holder and double World champion Nika Prevc aimed for a record 11th straight World Cup win but finished 15th after jumps of 124 m (115.1 pts) and 118 m (111.4 pts) in fluctuating winds. Germany’s Selina Freitag, overall runner‑up last season and a podium finisher in Lillehammer a year ago, ended 19th despite a focus on off‑season strength work.

Japan’s Yuki Ito, third after the opening round, slipped to eighth. Notable movers included Annika Sieff (up nine places to 17th) and Julia Muehlbacher (up 10 places to 18th).

Maruyama said she was surprised by her form, noting she hadn’t changed technique from last season: “It worked very well in the summer and now again.” Wearing the yellow bib, she added it motivates rather than pressures her ahead of Sunday’s second Lillehammer World Cup round.

The Lillehammer weekend continues with women’s qualifying and competition on Sunday, followed by men’s large hill sessions. All times CET.