Zakopane,poland – Challenging wind conditions tested athletes at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup event in Zakopane on January 4,2026,as Slovenia’s Lanišek claimed victory. The competition, held shortly after the prestigious Four Hills Tournament, saw a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars contend for valuable World Cup points. While several top jumpers were absent preparing for the upcoming Sapporo stage, the event delivered notable performances and a historic milestone for one young athlete.
Czech ski jumper Koudelka advanced to the second round in Poland for the fourth time this season, achieving a distance of 123 meters for a 21st-place finish. He repeated that distance in the second round, where competitors generally jumped farther. During his flight, a gust of wind affected him, and the experienced Czech athlete shook his head and tapped his forehead in frustration with the conditions he faced.
Koudelka’s 26th-place result matched his finish from Tuesday’s final of the Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen. He finished just ahead of Slovenia’s Prevc, who struggled with the challenging conditions and missed a chance to tie Finn Janne Ahonen’s record of 13 consecutive podium finishes.
Several top-10 World Cup ski jumpers were absent from the competition, including Japanese athletes Ryoyu Kobayashi and Ren Nikaido, Germans Philipp Raimund and Felix Hoffmann, and Austrians Daniel Tschofenig and Stefan Kraft, following the Four Hills Tournament and before traveling to Sapporo.
Despite Prevc’s setback, Slovenia still claimed victory. Lanišek secured his third win of the season, finishing ahead of Austrians Jan Hörl and Manuel Fettner.
Eighteen-year-old Slovakian Hektor Kapustík had the best competition of his young career. While he didn’t maintain his surprising eighth-place position after the first jump, he secured 20th place and earned his first World Cup points. He also became the first Slovakian ski jumper to score points since Martin Mesík finished 29th in Engelberg in December 2005.
| World Cup Ski Jumping in Zakopane: |
|---|
| Men: |
| 1. Lanišek (Slovenia) 278.1 points (138+137), |
| 2. Hörl 264.8 (144.5+135.5), |
| 3. Fettner (both Austria) 262.7 (135.5+135), |
| 4. Lindvik (Norway) 255.6 (132.5+140), |
| 5. Embacher (Austria) 237.9 (125+136.5), |
| 6. Forfang (Norway) 234.7 (118.5+140), |
| …26. KOUDELKA (Czech Republic) 206.5 (123+123). |
| World Cup Standings (after 16 of 30 events): |
| 1. Prevc (Slovenia) 1214, |
| 2. R. Kobayashi (Japan) 822, |
| 3. Lanišek 717, |
| 4. Nikaido (Japan) 661, |
| 5. Hörl and Raimund (Germany) both 625, |
| …44. KOUDELKA 24. |
Zakopane, Poland – Slovenia’s Lanišek took first place at the World Cup ski jumping event in Zakopane on January 4, 2026, demonstrating strong performance despite challenging wind conditions. The competition saw several athletes contend with fluctuating gusts during their jumps, impacting scores and overall results.
Lanišek achieved a total score of 278.1 points with jumps of 138 and 137 meters, securing his third victory of the season. Austria’s Hörl finished second with 264.8 points, followed closely by his compatriot Fettner with 262.7 points.
Czech ski jumper Koudelka advanced to the second round and ultimately finished in 26th place with a score of 206.5 points (123 meters in both rounds). He matched his result from the Four Hills Tournament final in Bischofshofen earlier in the week.
The event also marked a breakthrough for Slovakia’s Hektor Kapustík, who earned his first World Cup points with a 20th-place finish. This is the first time a Slovakian ski jumper has scored points in a World Cup event since December 2005.
Slovenia’s Prevc currently leads the overall World Cup standings with 1214 points, followed by Japan’s R. Kobayashi with 822 points and Lanišek with 717 points. Koudelka currently sits in 44th place with 24 points.
The competition took place shortly after the conclusion of the Four Hills Tournament and before the athletes travel to Sapporo for the next stage of the World Cup season. Several top competitors were absent from the Zakopane event, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape as the season progresses.
These results highlight the dynamic nature of ski jumping and the importance of adapting to variable weather conditions. The sport demands not only technical skill but also the ability to perform under pressure and adjust to unpredictable environmental factors.
