PyeongChang, Korea, January 20, 2024: Kazakhstan’s Ilya Mizernykh stunned the European ski jumping powers of Austria and Poland on Saturday to win the men’s normal hill individual title at Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre.
Mizernykh, 16, scored 110.2 points - good enough for third place - on his first jump and 103.8 on his second jump, again for third place, to win gold.
Austria’s Niki Humml won silver with 98.2 (8) and 112.5 (1), and Poland’s Lukasz Lukaszczyk took bronze with scores of 113.9 (1) and 95.8 (10) after falling on his landing in the second jump.
After moving up from third to first place to take gold, the Kazakh jumper said he had taken an important step in his career.
“This is a big result, a big win, not only me but also for Kazakhstan. It’s an historic medal and, for me, it’s a big ‘tick’ off my list of goals.”
He added there was no special trick or secret to his victory. “It was just about doing my best, working hard.”