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Raimund Refuses Holmenkollen Jump in Wind Chaos as Naito Wins After One Round

His later explanation citing concern for loved ones intensified scrutiny of FIS safety decisions.

Overview

  • Gusty, rapidly shifting winds in Oslo destabilized flights, with Germany’s Felix Hoffmann narrowly avoiding a crash moments before Philipp Raimund declined to start.
  • The jury abandoned the competition after the first series, and Tomofumi Naito was declared the winner based on that single counted round.
  • Raimund’s refusal was caught on ARD audio and he later told Norway’s NRK he thought of his girlfriend and family when judging the risk too high.
  • Prominent voices including Sven Hannawald and coach Stefan Horngacher backed Raimund’s choice, while Austria’s Andreas Widhölzl criticized organizers for pushing ahead in unsafe conditions.
  • FIS race director Sandro Pertile said athletes are never forced to jump and defended running the first round, fueling a wider review of safety procedures as the circuit moves to Vikersund and Planica.