Finnish athlete Ilkka Herola made history on Friday by winning the Nordic Combined World Cup competition in Kulm, Austria. The event was unique, as it marked the first time in World Cup history that Nordic Combined featured ski flying.
A Thrilling Finish
Herola started the cross-country leg in third place but quickly joined the battle for victory. The outcome was decided on the final lap, where Herola and Austria’s Johannes Lamparter raced side by side toward the finish line.
The Finnish star edged ahead right at the line, winning by just 0.1 seconds. Germany’s Johannes Rydzek finished third.
First Win of the Season – Second of His Career
The victory was:
- 🥇 Herola’s first World Cup win of the season
- 🥇 The second individual World Cup victory of his career
- 💰 Worth €10,000 in prize money
The result was a major milestone both for Herola and for the sport itself, given the historic ski flying debut.
Strong Performances from Other Finns
Other Finnish athletes also impressed:
- Eero Hirvonen climbed from 19th place to sixth, posting one of the fastest cross-country times of the day and even challenging for the podium.
- Otto Niittykoski finished 22nd.
The historic competition in Kulm delivered an outstanding day for Finland and confirmed Herola’s place among the world’s Nordic Combined elite.
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