How a Polish star reacted to being cut from the squad for the World Cup opener

On the eve of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup season, the Polish team held a training camp in Zakopane, after which head coach Maciej Maciusiak named the six athletes who will travel to Lillehammer for the opening weekend.

Selected for Lillehammer: Paweł Wąsek, Kamil Stoch, Piotr Żyła, Kacper Tomasiak, Aleksander Zniszczoł and Dawid Kubacki.

Veteran jumper Maciej Kot did not make the squad. Before the official announcement, he posted a cryptic, downbeat message on Instagram: "Sometimes in ski jumping one day is enough for everything to change. This camp in Zakopane brutally showed me that again…"

Coach Maciusiak, speaking to the Polish Ski Association, outlined his view of the group’s form. He highlighted that Paweł Wąsek, who struggled earlier in preparations, had improved markedly and even won the final internal test, giving him confidence for Lillehammer. He added that:

• Piotr Żyła showed much better jumps in Zakopane compared to earlier.
• Kamil Stoch maintained his stable level from recent weeks.
• Kacper Tomasiak continues to jump well, similar to his previous form.
• Dawid Kubacki is at a good level.
• Aleksander Zniszczoł had very good jumps in Wisła but weaker ones in Zakopane.

Maciusiak assessed the last two camps in Wisła and Zakopane as positive overall, saying the team made several steps forward heading into the World Cup opener in Norway.