FIS News
Athlete of the Week: Taylor Fletcher (USA)
Even though were stoked to be in Japan, at first, it did not look like the weekend in Sapporo would be a good weekend for the brothers Fletcher. After a good jump and a promising eighth position after the jumping event on Friday, Bryan did a lot of leading work for the pursuing group on day one and ultimately only finished ninth after having the victory right before him during stages of the race. Brother Taylor finished 22nd after a mediocre jump which left him without chances at an intermediate 34th rank and +3:34 of time disadvantage.
Even though Eric Frenzel kept on winning in an almost clockwork-like manner, things in the Fletcher-corner changed big time on Saturday. The jumping event was a throwback from Bryan, putting him on 27th position but lightened up for Taylor who achieved rank 28 and a time behind of just slightly over two minutes - difficult but doable for one of the fastest skiers of the field. The added bonus of some teamwork with his brother at the beginning of the race got the „Fletcher-cannonball“ launched and the 24-year-old continued to barrel through the field until he had caught up with the leader.
Playing his whole cross-country strength, Fletcher attached on the long uphill leading out of the stadium but a well-rested Eric Frenzel and local hero Akito Watabe were not to be shaken off. In the end, a third place and the first podium result in over a year, the total second in his career became reality - an act of liberation for the American who had been through a tough time after his breakout season in the winter of 2012/13.
„It’s huge for me! I have known for a while that I am very capable of reaching the podium. Last year was very rough for me psychologically, coming out of a breakout year and then having a season where I barely made it into the competitions jumping-wise, that’s hard. But I kept the head right, kept going. This year kind of started in a similar fashion. But the jumping is getting better and better and the cross-country skiing is getting faster and faster. That’s the goal“, Fletcher said in the press conference after the race.
If this result can act as inspiration and confidence boost, Taylor Fletcher and also his brother Bryan who finished eighth that same day, have to be considered for the podium any day… Team USA might back on top!
Playing his whole cross-country strength, Fletcher attached on the long uphill leading out of the stadium but a well-rested Eric Frenzel and local hero Akito Watabe were not to be shaken off. In the end, a third place and the first podium result in over a year, the total second in his career became reality - an act of liberation for the American who had been through a tough time after his breakout season in the winter of 2012/13.
„It’s huge for me! I have known for a while that I am very capable of reaching the podium. Last year was very rough for me psychologically, coming out of a breakout year and then having a season where I barely made it into the competitions jumping-wise, that’s hard. But I kept the head right, kept going. This year kind of started in a similar fashion. But the jumping is getting better and better and the cross-country skiing is getting faster and faster. That’s the goal“, Fletcher said in the press conference after the race.
If this result can act as inspiration and confidence boost, Taylor Fletcher and also his brother Bryan who finished eighth that same day, have to be considered for the podium any day… Team USA might back on top!
Source: fis-ski.com
