January 24, 2013 (Liberec, CZE) – Japan’s Sara Takanashi defended her gold medal in the women’s individuals’ ski-jumping competition at the 2013 U23/Junior Nordic World Ski Championships today in Liberec. Evelyn Insam from Italy won the silver and Katja Pozun of Slovenia won the bronze. The USA’s Sarah Hendrickson, who was gunning for gold, had to settle for 6th place.

Sarah Takanashi © www.liberec2013.cz

World Cup leader Takanashi, 16, landed a 98.5m first round jump on Jested in excellent weather conditions and headed to the second round in first place. Insam from Italy and Coline Mattel from France lined up behind her. Hendrickson, second overall in the WCup standings, jumped to 89 metres putting her in 16th.

Takanashi’s second-round jump of 102m delivered her the gold with Insam just behind at 100m to claim the silver. Pozun from Slovenia put in a strong second jump of 99m for the bronze.

“It’s a great feeling to repeat last year’s victory at the Junior World Championships. My jumps here in Liberec were all good and I am so happy about winning the gold medal,” commented the Japanese who repeated her victory from the championship last year in Erzurum in Turkey. “It is a great feeling to defend the junior world title among such great competition.”

Sarah Hendrickson © www.liberec2013.cz

Hendrickson, the reigning World Cup champion, came into this year’s Junior Worlds confident and determined to complete her medal trifecta by winning the elusive gold – she’s won 2010 bronze and 2012 silver medals at the Junior Worlds.

“It just wasn’t my day,” said Hendrickson, who finished sixth, with jumps of 89 and 97 meters on the K90 hill. “My first jump was awful and my second jump was good enough to be in the running, but you can’t win with one good jump.

“Obviously, I’m not happy about today. This was a really big event for me and has always been in my dreams to win Junior Worlds,” Hendrickson continued. “But it’s just one day in my career and I can’t let it get me down.”

“Ski-jumping is a sport in which head decides. From this point of view, I have not managed well at all in the first round.  I was over-motivated,” said the disappointed American.

Hendrickson’s teammate Emily Anderson, 17, made history last year when she competed in the first ever Youth Olympic Winter Games. It marked the first time women were allowed to ski jump in an event sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee. At only her second international event she brought her A-game finishing in 29th at Liberec.

“I was so excited about how I did for my first Junior World Championships. I was really happy I made it to the second round and I just thought – I did it,” said Anderson.  Following Anderson in 30th was her teammate Nina Lussi with Manon Maurer in 42nd. No Canadians competed.

Insam as happy with silver, “That was a great and exciting competition today. I am absolutely satisfied with my jumps and my performance. Now I really hope to go on like this!”

“I am totally satisfied and happy right now,” commented bronze medalist Katja Pozun, “These are the last Junior World Championships I’m taking part in, so winning the Bronze medal means a lot to me.”

Results
Ski jumping – Ladies, HS 100 (42 participants)

1. Takanashi (Japan) 268 p. (98,5 + 102)
2. Insam (Italy) 259,5 (96,5 + 100)
3. Pozun (Slovenia) 253,5 (94,5 + 99)
4. Mattel (France) 246,5 (95 + 95)
5. Bogataj (Slovenia) 241,5 (93 + 96)
6. Hendrickson (USA) 241 (89 + 97)
29. Emilee Anderson (USA) 149.5 (74.5, 76)
30. Nina Lussi (USA) 149 (72, 75.5)
42. Manon Maurer (USA) 17 (47)

Complete results HERE.