Prevc lost the medal for lack of concentration

27. februar 2015 ob 11.27 • Falun - MMC RTV SLO

Peter Prevc placed fourth, which is the third best Slovenian result on large ski jumping hills. Foto: EPA

At the occasion of Tina Maze's failure in Maribor Andrea Massi commented that only severe illness can be considered bad luck. In sport there should be no talk of bad luck, only of facts. His words proved true also on Thursday, at the ski jumping hill in Falun.

Severin Freund from Germany came to Sweden as the best prepared ski jumper. Only tenths of a point separated him from the first gold medal on the medium hill, and on the large hill he left his competitors far behind and won with one of the greatest margins in the history of world championships.

Peter Prevc got the shortest end of the stick from the three ski jumpers competing for silver and gold. But as the real sportsman he didn't use bad luck as an excuse, nor did he complain of the poor conditions in the final series. He simply admitted the fact mentioned by Andrea Massi – the lack of concentration causing problems in telemark landing in the first series.

A good landing would have again brought a wide smile to Peter's face – and would have resulted in a silver medal. The facts are often painful, but Peter with six medals from big competitions has, in spite of being only 22 years old, already outdone all his predecessors from the country on the sunny side of the Alps.

The decision on ski flights in Vikersund was of great importance for the hunt of the large crystal globe. In a couple of years, or at a later point in Peter's career, his fourth place in Falun will be considered just one of the number of good results he had achieved – not to mention it being the third best result achieved by the Slovenian ski jumpers at large ski jumping hills. The second best is owned by – who else – Peter Prevc. The only real challenge left for him is the world champion title won by Franci Petek.

Peter was among the best in Falun as well; he was left behind only by two competitors who had a good day - Gregor Schlierenzauer had a good day literally, while Rune Velta's good day lasted for two whole weeks. At least ten competitors can realistically aspire for victory, and all of them are more experienced from the Slovenian ski jumper, who is no more considered as the future champion, but the champion of today. Thursday was indeed painful, but the fight for the large crystal globe continues. The immediate future could fill Peter with optimism and pride.