Only nine jumped — absurd scenes at the Olympics

Fans at the hill could hardly believe their eyes — the start list had big gaps. In the first training round only nine athletes sat on the start gate. The second round was even smaller. The main team duets competition, the last ski jumping act at these Games, is scheduled for Monday.

The first round was won somewhat unexpectedly by France's Valentin Foubert, who flew 133 m and beat Daniel Tschofenig despite the Austrian jumping farther (138.5 m). In the second round, in which Foubert did not start, only eight jumpers remained. Austrians dominated: Daniel Tschofenig won with 133 m ahead of his decorated teammate Stefan Kraft (130 m). Third place went to France's Enzo Milesi.

Coaches explained they were saving their athletes' energy for Monday's team (duet) competition. One of the coaches who made that call was Poland's Maciej Maciusiak — he had previously signalled such a possibility and after the large‑hill contest confirmed that Polish jumpers would be missing from the Sunday session.

The duel for medals in the team (duet) event will start on Monday at 19:00 CET; the trial round is scheduled one hour earlier.