20.02.2010: Olympic Games: Ammann wins his fourth Gold Medal

Strapping on his disputed bindings again, Ammann flew past his main rivals, putting down the best jump in both rounds and staving off four Austrians who weren't happy about his equipment.

Polish veteran Adam Malysz took silver, and Austrian 20-year-old Gregor Schlierenzauer took the bronze -- the exact same finish as in the normal hill jump a week earlier.

Ammann held a commanding lead after the first round with a jaw-dropping 144-meter effort -- seven meters farther than Malysz. Focused on a good landing on his second jump, he soared 138 meters and nailed his landing for a total score of 283.6 points.

Malysz had 269.4 points and Schlierenzauer 262.2.

"What can I say? I was so nervous up there," Ammann said. "This is all very nerve-racking. I always have this magical force to jump far here, and that is amazing. This is truly amazing."

His rivals thought so, too.

"He jumped unbelievable," Malysz said.

After sliding into the flat following his second jump, Ammann pumped his right fist and then pointed to the crowd at Whistler Olympic Park, then waited to see by how much he had won his fourth gold medal.

It wasn't close.

Ammann also swept both individual events at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games as a brash 20-year-old, then had a disappointing performance in Turin. He bounced back a year later and has been among the best in his sport ever since.

"Simon is really amazing," Schlierenzauer said.

Matti Nykanen of Finland also won four gold medals at the Winter Olympics, but one of them came in the team jump.

The International Ski Federation on Friday dismissed Austrian complaints that Ammann's bindings violated regulations and gave him an unfair edge, clearing him to keep using the equipment in Saturday's large hill event _ and allowing him to keep his medal from the normal hill competition.

Normal bindings use an elastic strap at the back to keep the boot in place. In the Swiss version, the boot is attached to a curved iron stick that bends forward as the jumper leans his body almost parallel to his skis.

The Austrians say the bindings help Ammann jump farther by improving his aerodynamics, and they asked the ski federation for a review. The Swiss, in turn, asked for a quick ruling, and FIS quickly determined that Ammann's equipment met regulations.

Ammann said he never was worried that his binding would be disallowed, and Malysz suggested the Austrians were either jealous or playing psychological games with the World Cup leader.

The Austrians are the heavy favorites to win the team jump on Monday.

There was a tie for the final spot after the first jump, so 31 competitors instead of usual 30 advanced to the second round.

Finland's Janne Ahonen, who came out of retirement in hopes of his first individual medal at the Olympics, crashed on his trial jump. After a disappointing 125-meter performance in the first round, he bypassed his second jump.

The last Olympic Competition fort he jumpers will be the Team Competition on the „Big Hill“ on Monday. Sportsplanet will for sure inform you about the Result and all the Details.

Now also the first Impressions from Vancouver are online on Sportsplanet. You can find them in the section: Olympic Games 2010 - Vancouver

16.02.2010 – HS 140

18.00 Official Training

17.02.2010 – HS 140

18.00 Official Training

18.02.2010 – HS 140:

21.30 Official Training

19.02.2010 – HS 140

17.30 Official Training
19.00 Qualification

20.02.2010 - HS 140

19.30 Trial Round
20.30 Start of the Competition

22.02.2010 – HS 140 Team

18.00 Trial Round
19.00 Start of the Competition

Simon Ammann from Siwtzerland is in Leading Position after the first Round of the Big Hill Competition. He jumepd 144 metres and leads in front of the Polnish Jumper Adam Malysz who did a jump on 137 metres. Matti Hautamaeki from Finnland is ranked third: 134 metres.

This was the Trial Round for the Competition:

The Swiss Jumper Simon Ammann won the Trial Round for the Big Hill Competition at the Olympic Games in Vancouver. He did a jump on 142,5 metres, and won this ROund in Front of the Norwegian Anders Jacobsen (139,5 metres) and the two Austrians Thomas Morgenstern and Gregor Schlierenzauer, who both jumped 137 metres.

This was the Qualification:

The Qualification fot the Big Hill Competition at the Olympic Games in Vancouver was won by the Japanese Jumper Noriaki Kasai, who did a jump on 142,5 metres, followed by his Teammate Daiki Ito (139,5 metres). Andreas Wank from Germany, Matti Hautamaeki from Finnland and Antonin Hajek from Czech Republic follow ex aequo on Rank three – 137,5 metres.

In the group of the best 10 Jumpers oft he World Cup Standing, who jumped with 4 and 5 Gates less Speed, the Swiss Jumper Simon Ammann did the best jump with 140 metres. Andres Jacobsen who had more speed than Simon Ammann, landed at 142,5 metres.

This was the Trial Round for the Qualification:

Simon Ammann from Switzerland won the Trial Round for the Qualification of the Big Hill Competition in Vancouver. Her jumped 142,5 metres and won this Round in Front of the Norwegian Anders Jacobsen who did a jump on 137,5 metres. Thomas Morgenstern from Austria and the Slovenian Robert Kranjec foillof ex aequo on Rank three - 135,5 metres.

This was the Training on Thursday:

The third Training on Thursday was dominated by the Polnish Jumper Adam Malysz who won the first Round with a jump on 144 metres follwed by the Finnish Jumper Janne Happonen (140 metres) and the Slovenian Peter Prevc (137,5 metres). In the second Round Malysz, Koch from Austria and the Japanese Daiki Ito were ex aequo on Rank one. They all jumped 137 metres. The third Round, were Malysz didn't jump, was won by Martin Koch - 137,5 metres.

This was the Training on Wednesday:

On Wednesday there was the second official Training for the Big Hill Competition in Vancouver. The first of the three Rounds was won by Gregor Schlierenzauer from Austria who did a jump on 139 metres, followed by the two Slovenians Peter Prevc (138,5 metres) and Robert Kranjec (138 metres).

The second Round afterwards was dominated by the German Martin Schmitt who did 145 metres and won this Round in Front of the Austrian Thomas Morgenstern (141,5 metres) and Tom Hilde from Norway (139,5 metres).

And the last Round won Andreas Kofler from Austria with a jump on 142,5 metres. His Teammate Wolfgang Loitzl (141,5 metres) and the Polnish Jumper Adam Malysz (139,5 metres) follow on Rank two and three.

This was the Training at Tuesday:

The first of the three Rounds of Training on Tuesday, where a lot of jumpers not take part, was won by the Norwegian Anders Bardal who did a jump on 139 metres, followed by the Canadian Stefan Read (136,5 metres).

The second Round afterwards was dominated by Janne Happonen from Finland. He jumped 141 metres an won this Round in Front of his Teammate and the Polnish Jumper Krzysztof Mietus who both jumped 137,5 metres.

In the third Round Simon Ammann from Switzerland was the best. The Olympic Champion from the Normal Hill did a jump on 143 metres and won this Round in Front of Andreas Kofler from Austria (142 metres) and the Norwegian Anders Jacobsen (141,5 metres).