After bronze in the combination: “I learned from previous mistakes”

Fortunately, Rettenegger’s somersault did not have any far-reaching consequences: on the one hand, because the competitors from Germany and Japan behind him had also landed on the seat of their pants in the deep cross-country ski run; on the other hand, because the Salzburg man didn’t panic after his mishap, but played his part confidently. “I didn’t run like a headless chicken, I stayed calm. I learned from previous mistakes,” said Rettenegger after winning the bronze medal with Johannes Lamparter in the team sprint.

Difficult mission

This meant that these Winter Games for Austria’s Nordic combined athletes came to an end with another celebration. Three medals in three competitions are a brilliant result, although third place in the team sprint was probably the most difficult mission. Not just because of Stefan Rettenegger’s cross-country skiing mistake. At halftime, the two Austrians were in fifth place and still far from the medal positions. Almost half a minute separated the duo from the leading Germans before the 2 x 7.5 kilometer cross-country run. “We screwed up the jumping,” said ÖSV head coach Christoph Bieler, but without losing faith in the medal. “The nice thing about the combination is that there is a second discipline in which you can make everything right again,” added Johannes Lamparter.

Catching up

Said, done, run – and made up for. After just a few kilometers, Stefan Rettenegger had made up for the big gap and caught up with the leading group. Afterwards, a tactical skirmish on the cross-country ski trails developed before the two falls at the finish set the tone in the fight for the podium places.

Stefan Rettenegger was then relieved that his mishap was not punished and was the final runner Johannes Lamparter came third behind Norway and Finland. “Medalist at the Olympics, that sounds really cool,” said the 24-year-old after the greatest success of his career.

Record hunt

Johannes Lamparter now has a certain routine with Olympic victory ceremonies. After the great disappointment in Beijing in 2022, when he came away empty-handed, the Tyrolean leaves the Fiemme Valley with two silver medals in the individual and team bronze. “I can be super happy with these games,” explained the 24-year-old.

But the Tyrolean’s hunger for success is far from satisfied. Johannes Lamparter is still pursuing big goals this winter: As only the second Austrian combined athlete after Klaus Sulzenbacher, the 24-year-old could win the overall World Cup for the second time.

Lamparter is also hunting the Austrian record man Felix Gottwald, who celebrated 23 World Cup victories. Johannes Lamparter is now only one win away from his role model.