Poland names team for World Cup opener; Maciej Kot left out

Poland’s men’s ski jumping team has been set for the World Cup season opener in Lillehammer. Head coach Maciej Maciusiak selected six athletes: Paweł Wąsek, Kamil Stoch, Piotr Żyła, Kacper Tomasiak, Aleksander Zniszczoł, and Dawid Kubacki.

Notably absent is Maciej Kot, who won a Summer Grand Prix event in Wisła but struggled to maintain that level in the autumn. Kot hinted at disappointment on social media, writing: “Sometimes in ski jumping one day is enough for everything to change. This camp in Zakopane brutally showed me that again…”.

Maciusiak reviewed the final preparation camps in Wisła and Zakopane and offered encouraging assessments: - Paweł Wąsek “made it” after a difficult start to preparations and, according to the coach, jumped the best in Zakopane to secure the final roster spot. - Piotr Żyła showed much better jumps in Zakopane. - Kamil Stoch kept a steady, solid level. - Kacper Tomasiak continued to jump well. - Dawid Kubacki is at a good level. - Aleksander Zniszczoł had very good jumps in Wisła but weaker ones in Zakopane.

The season begins next Friday in Lillehammer with a mixed team competition. At this stage, the same Polish six are expected to compete at the subsequent World Cup stops in Falun and Ruka.