Eric Frenzel (GER) wins. © Nordic Focus

February 13, 2014 (Sochi, Russia) – Nordic combined athletes converged on the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center, on Feb. 12, for the individual 10km Gundersen Normal Hill event, the first of three Nordic Combined events of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games. Billy Demong (USA) pulled out the strongest finish for Team USA in 24th after jumping into 31st, while Germany’s Eric Fenzel won the gold medal. The next medal event is the individual 10km Gundersen large hill event on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Billy Demong (USA) © Nancie Battaglia

“Things felt pretty good. With the jump, it’s hard to be too upset because I’ve been struggling this week on that small hill. I think it’s a little flatter than any hill I’ve ever skied before. I actually had my best two jumps today. The trial was really good and it’s hard to be too upset at the comp jump when it’s still my second longest jump,” said Demong.

USA's Billy Demong jumps over the rings. © Nancie Battaglia

After his 31st-ranked jump, Demong mounted a fierce race, but became tangled in a group of skiers during his second lap, which prevented him from making up his 1:33 deficit incurred in the jump round.

(l-r) Eric Frenzel (GER) and Akito Watabe (JPN) © Nordic Focus

“In the race I felt great,” said Demong. “I was skiing with Mikko (Kokslien) and working my way up and then I ended up getting caught in a big pileup on the second lap and spent the entire third lap trying to catch back up. The feelings up to that point were good. I have the capability to put in a good race now; I just have got to steer clear of trouble I guess.”

USA's Billy Demong is followed closely by teammate Bryan Fletcher. © Nancie Battaglia

In his first Olympic appearance, Bryan Fletcher (USA) finished just behind Demong in 26th, after jumping into 41st, and brother Taylor Fletcher (USA) skied into 33rd.

(l-r) Akito Watabe (JPN), Eric Frenzel (GER), Magnus Krog (NOR) © Nordic Focus

Taylor Fletcher said: “It was a long time sitting at that start line and it’s definitely something that I never want to do again. I think going into the next days, I have a better opportunity and I think that won’t happen again. Cross-country is not a problem, I’ll just go out and go as hard as I can for as long as I can and that’s really all you’ve got to do. So we’ll see how it goes and definitely hope for a better day.

Six-time Olympian Todd Lodwick (USA) jumped into 34th, but pulled out of the competition in order to rest his shoulder.

Yoshito Watabe (JPN). © Nordic Focus

Fenzel won the gold medal with Akito Watabe (JPN) of Japan taking silver and Magnus Krog (NOR) of Norway making up a tremendous margin and earning bronze after jumping into 20th.

Eric Frenzel (GER) airborn atop the podium © Nancie Battaglia

MORE QUOTES

Bryan Fletcher:
First race is under the belt. All the cobwebs are out now. It’s exciting. I’m still here with a smile on my face and I’ll go home happy.

It was an extremely challenging jump. I think this is one of the hardest hills I’ve ever jumped in my life. The rhythm of the hill does not match how your feelings are, so it was really difficult to find the rhythm. I found it in the trial run today and went for it in the comp jump and kind of laid it all out on the line. Unfortunately it didn’t work out but we’ll try again next week.

USA's Billy Demong followed by teammate Bryan Fletcher © Nancie Battaglia

Taylor Fletcher:
This hill is hard. I don’t understand it. I think a lot of people have the same feelings. I don’t know what it is that makes it so difficult. We jumped the big hill and I was fifth here last year on it. It was my best jumping result so I know I can reproduce that. I’m a little bit better on a big hill. I don’t know if it’s my size that allows me to do that, but I can be a little bit more aggressive, which you really can’t on the smaller hill. So we’ll see.

Todd Lodwick:
The whole goal coming here after the shoulder injury is to make sure that we are a full team and that we are the strongest that we can be and they’re relying on me to be 100% in the team event. With that said, I’m taking the afternoon off. It was good to put on the bib. I earned it and it was good to get out and jump over the Olympic rings and take in the atmosphere. I wouldn’t give this up for anything.

Billy Demong (USA) on the landing. © Nancie Battaglia

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