Nordic combined

ÖSV double victory in Lahti, but worries about Seidl

Stefan Rettenegger (left) and Johannes Rettenegger after their double success.(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Johannes Lamparter and Stefan Rettenegger have ensured an ÖSV double victory in the Nordic combined in Lathi. However, their triumph was overshadowed by the serious injury to their team-mate Mario Seidl. 

Nordic combined athletes Johannes Lamparter and Stefan Rettenegger celebrated an ÖSV double victory in Lahti in the absence of World Cup dominator Jarl Magnus Riiber. The success was overshadowed by a serious injury to Mario Seidl. The man from Salzburg suffered a fracture to his right kneecap during a very long jump with a hard landing. A ligament injury is also suspected.

"We are currently organizing the return transport to Austria, where the kneecap injury will be treated surgically. It is currently not possible to assess whether there are any other injuries to the knee," said ÖSV doctor Lukas Pichler. An additional MRI examination in Austria should provide further information. Seidl, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, only recently returned to the World Cup team after a lengthy illness.

Thoughts on Seidl
Lamparter secured his third win of the season in the final sprint, just ahead of Rettenegger. It was the Tyrolean's 13th overall. "It was very close, we're on the same level at the moment. I had luck on my side today. We played it fair, I'm happy that I won," said Lamparter.

Mario Seidl suffered a serious injury(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rettenegger made it onto the podium for the ninth time this winter, with his first victory still to come. "A second place is also excellent. I'll keep at it and do my homework, then the first places will come too," said the man from Salzburg, also thinking of Seidl. "I hope he's proud of us. It really hurts that such a good jump is punished like this."

Between light and shadow
ÖSV coach Christoph Bieler was divided. "When you lose an athlete due to an injury, the sporting result can't make up for it," said Bieler. His athletes had coped excellently with the drama surrounding Seidl. "I can only take my hat off, I'm really proud. As far as the results are concerned, it's an incredibly great day."

Third place went to Estonia's Kristjan Ilves, almost a minute behind the ÖSV duo, who were also ahead in the jumping. The next best Austrians were Franz-Josef Rehrl, Martin Fritz and Thomas Rettenegger in eighth to tenth place. With Oslo and Trondheim still two stages to go before the end of the season, serial winner Riiber will also be back.