FIS News
Athlete of the Week: Johannes Rydzek (GER)
It looked like the season 2015/16 and World Champion Johannes Rydzek would not become best friends until now: the German either shone with great jumping or great cross-country performances but the two never tied together in an optimal way. Paired with some bad luck, namely his finish line sprint crash in Seefeld that cost him a podium position, Rydzek was one of the few World Cup Top Ten athletes that did not make it on the podium… until now.
The past weekend in Finland painted a different picture, although the weekend started off like the rest of the season before: a 14th place after the jumping part in Lahti on Friday and the sixth fastest cross-country time meant another good but not great fifth rank. The first Team Sprint of the season on Saturday changed things: a long jump of 125.5 metres, the second rank in his group, burst the dam and had Rydzek celebrating, followed up by by far the fastest cross-country time. A visibly relieved Rydzek was the picture of good cheer at the press conference but showing concern and finding kind words for his unlucky rival Jarl Riiber at the same time.
Sunday’s event in Lahti had Rydzek inch closer to the podium with rank four, although a slighly weaker jump held the 24-year-old back but Nordic Combined’s return to Kuopio proved to be the change of scenery that catapulted Rydzek back on top. The fifth rank after the jumping event and a tactically smart race which proved Rydzek’s sprint and winner qualities at the end had the German back in the gold spot on the podium, the sixth individual World Cup victory of his career.
What also makes Johannes Rydzek into a true champion and the FIS Athlete of the Week is his fairness and compassion towards other competitors. When the „eternal second-placed“ Akito Watabe had to be satisfied with yet another second rank behind Rydzek, the German found the right words even while celebrating his own victory on his facebook page: „Akito Watabe, your day will also come this season.“ Johannes Rydzek, hats off to you.
Source: fis-ski.com
The past weekend in Finland painted a different picture, although the weekend started off like the rest of the season before: a 14th place after the jumping part in Lahti on Friday and the sixth fastest cross-country time meant another good but not great fifth rank. The first Team Sprint of the season on Saturday changed things: a long jump of 125.5 metres, the second rank in his group, burst the dam and had Rydzek celebrating, followed up by by far the fastest cross-country time. A visibly relieved Rydzek was the picture of good cheer at the press conference but showing concern and finding kind words for his unlucky rival Jarl Riiber at the same time.
Sunday’s event in Lahti had Rydzek inch closer to the podium with rank four, although a slighly weaker jump held the 24-year-old back but Nordic Combined’s return to Kuopio proved to be the change of scenery that catapulted Rydzek back on top. The fifth rank after the jumping event and a tactically smart race which proved Rydzek’s sprint and winner qualities at the end had the German back in the gold spot on the podium, the sixth individual World Cup victory of his career.
What also makes Johannes Rydzek into a true champion and the FIS Athlete of the Week is his fairness and compassion towards other competitors. When the „eternal second-placed“ Akito Watabe had to be satisfied with yet another second rank behind Rydzek, the German found the right words even while celebrating his own victory on his facebook page: „Akito Watabe, your day will also come this season.“ Johannes Rydzek, hats off to you.
Source: fis-ski.com
