Domen Prevc Clinches Historic Vierschanzentournee Victory as German Ski Jumpers Struggle

At the 74th Vierschanzentournee ski jumping tournament, 26-year-old Slovenian Domen Prevc secured his first overall victory, replicating the achievement of his brother Peter Prevc who won the event exactly ten years earlier. Despite not winning the final event in Bischofshofen, Prevc’s strong jumps of 138 and 138.5 meters earned him the prestigious Golden Eagle trophy and a €100,000 prize. The podium was completed by Austrian jumpers Jan Hörl and the 19-year-old Stephan Embacher.

German ski jumpers faced notable challenges throughout the tournament. Felix Hoffmann was the top German finisher, placing 6th overall despite battling knee issues, while Philipp Raimund finished 8th. Experienced athletes Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger struggled, with Geiger notably failing to meet Olympic qualification standards. This continues Germany’s wait for a Vierschanzentournee victory, the last being Sven Hannawald’s in the 2001/02 season.

The 2026 tournament saw 12,500 spectators attend, and it may be the last without female participants as plans are underway to introduce women’s competitions next year alongside men’s qualifying rounds. With the Olympic Winter Games just four weeks away in Predazzo, Italy, where Prevc is a top contender, German Bundestrainer Stefan Horngacher faces significant challenges preparing the team amid a scarcity of strong emerging talent.