A new Star was born - portrait of Stefan Kraft
Stefan Kraft is a talented 21-year-old Austrian ski-jumper. But the problem with Austrians is that they have a lot of talented jumpers, who must fight for a place in the national team. Last year the new shining star of the team became one year older Thomas Diethart. Now it's time for Stefan Kraft.
Kraft was present in the world's ski-jumping for many years. First he took part in FIS Cup competitions, then in Continental Cup and finally in the season 2012/2013 he found himself in the Austrian national A-Team. As a Junior World-Championship medalist and team champion he was a huge hope of new head coach of the Austrian team, Heinz Kuttin. From the beginning of the current season he was referring good results and before the Four-Hills-Tournament he was standing on the podium in a World Cup competition twice (first in Klingenthal where he was 2nd, second in Nizhny Tagil where he was 3rd).
This year for the first time the head coach confided in him and let him take part in the prestigious Four-Hills-Tournament from the beginning. Kraft didn't disappoint and took his first World Cup victory in Oberstdorf ahead of his teammate and roommate Michael Hayboeck and Slovene Peter Prevc. He also became the 4-Hills leader and secured the leading in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
"I couldn't imagine anything more beautiful than this" - said Kraft afterwards. - "It was a dream that came true. I've never felt such joy - my two good jumps and great performance of my team - something brilliant. You can never count on that you will win but you can hope for it. Today it was a good jumping in Oberstdorf. But the conditions were difficult - it was snowing, the wind was blowing from behind. I have waited for so long for my first victory."
Austria definitely has even more talented, yet undiscovered jumpers under her jacket. Will Stefan Kraft show his force in the next two competitions and become successor of Thomas Diethart? Everything will become clear soon.
- by Anna Sobol
