Kamil Stoch ahead of the European Games: “It will be a challenge”

The Polish national team, headed by three-time Olympic champion Kamil Stoch, is preparing to compete in the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023. The Polish jumpers have already had a training camp at the facilities of the Central Sports Centre in Zakopane, where they will compete on the Wielka and Średnia Krokiew hills.

The national team has been honing its form for several weeks now. They have already had preparatory camps in Spala as well as in Stockholm. They also work on their shape in Zakopane. From 27 June to 1 July, the medals of the European Games in ski jumping will be awarded here.

The rank of these competitions is an obligation, all the more so because they are held in our country and, moreover, in the capital of ski jumping in Zakopane. It will be a great celebration for fans. Ski jumping, perfect weather and holidays, so what more could you want? – stresses Stoch. – I always want to be the best and win. But I am aware of the stage of training we are at. The Games have somewhat unexpectedly jumped right into the middle of our preparations. However, there are no excuses and we have to do everything we can to fight for medals.

Stoch was second overall in the Summer Grand Prix in 2011-2012 and in 2020, and third in 2016 and 2022. He is the most successful athlete in the history of Polish ski jumping. In the European Games ski jumping will make its debut, so for everyone the competition will be a certain unknown.

I will treat this start as a kind of challenge. First of all, I will focus on the work I will have to do. What result this will bring me, time will tell. Let’s hope it will be long, eye-catching jumps,” Stoch added.

The competitions will take place in the capital of Polish ski jumping. In addition to the Wielka Krokiew, which is very well known to fans, ladies and men will also compete for medals on the modernised Średnia Krokiew, to which a stand for two thousand people has also been added. – Zakopane is one of the best places in the world for training or competitions. There is everything we need here, and the world envies us such facilities. They are at the highest level in the world,” believes Stoch.