Switzerland’s Simon Ammann has won the first gold medal of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games after claiming the men’s normal hill ski jump this morning at the Ski Jumping Stadium in Whistler Olympic Park.

In the picturesque surroundings of the Whistler pine forest, Ammann won the title he also secured at Salt Lake City in 2002, capturing his third Olympic gold medal having also won the large hill discipline in 2002.

Ammann, 28, recorded a combined total of 276.5 over his two jumps to lead home 2002 bronze medallist Adam Malysz (POL) by seven points, while Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT) claimed the bronze.

After his final jump, Ammann, who set a hill record of 141 with his final leap, saluted the crowd and threw a series of fist pumps to celebrate his victory. He remains as the only Swiss jumper to have won a gold medal in the ski jumping.

“I have no words to describe this situation,” Ammann said.

“It’s crazy, I tried so hard and I focused so much on my competitions here. But everyone here is at their best. It’s my third gold medal. This is insane.”

Following yesterday’s qualification jump 50 athletes were left in the competition and the first round commenced this morning at 9.45 as United States’ Anders Johnson was the first to descend from Gate 22.

With the critical (K) point standing at 95 metres the opening athletes struggled to find the distance and were penalised accordingly in their distance score.

Germany’s Michael Uhrmann who led through the 40 athletes from yesterday’s qualifying showed that he had entered the Olympic competition in outstanding form as he recorded a jump of 103.5 metres, which after being adjusted for style equalled 133 points.

Uhrmann held onto the lead in the first round until the second last jumper, when Ammann landed at 105 metres and received a total score of 135.5. Malysz was ranked in third place on 132.5 after the first jump.

With the final round cut down to the highest ranked 30 jumpers a number of contenders emerged as silver medallist from the 2009 World Championships, Gregor Schlierenzauer, scored a 140 to hold the gold medal position with six jumpers remaining.

Malysz then send the crowd into raptures as he progressed to a total of 269.5, while Uhrmann was unable to break into medal calculations after his final jump.

The stage was left for Ammann as the final competitor and he didn’t let down the expectant fans as he soared through the air to claim the gold medal.

David Polglase
AOC - Vancouver