In a standout performance at the FIS Grand Prix in Râsnov, Romania, Italian ski jumper Lara Malsiner claimed her first Grand Prix victory, finishing ahead of teammate Annika Sieff and Japan’s Nozomi Maruyama. Malsiner achieved impressive jumps of 94 and 95.5 meters on the HS 97 hill, while Sieff also celebrated a personal best with jumps of 88 and 90 meters, securing second place.
This result marks a significant achievement for Italy’s new coaching duo, Harry Rodlauer and Romed Moroder, who took over the women’s team after last season. “This is incredible; it’s my first win, especially considering that summer has never been my strongest season—I usually perform better in winter,” Malsiner remarked after her victory. “Today’s team result is fantastic. We have a good mix of young and experienced athletes who motivate each other. Our collaboration with the new coaches has been effective, which is reflected in our team’s performance,” she added. Malsiner’s victory places her fourth in the overall FIS Grand Prix rankings.
Coach Harry Rodlauer expressed his surprise at the outcome, particularly given the strong showing of the Slovenian team in recent training. “We developed our strategy with the athletes after yesterday’s training. They knew they had the capability to jump well, but the speed at which they executed today was unexpected. I’m pleased with the entire team; all five athletes performed admirably,” he stated. “A bit of luck is always needed, and we had that today with solid jumps.”
Alongside Malsiner and Sieff, Italy’s Martina Ambrosi finished 12th, Jessica Malsiner placed 19th, and Martina Zanitzer secured 25th, all earning points for the team. Slovenia’s top performer, Tina Erzar, finished fourth, while World Champion Ema Klinec and overall World Cup winner Nika Prevc placed seventh and ninth, respectively. France’s Lilou Zepchi surprised with a strong sixth-place finish.
The Chinese women’s team also delivered a notable performance, with all six athletes placing in the top 30, led by Qi Liu in 11th. Local favorite Daniela Haralambie rounded out the results in 15th.
The next event in the FIS Women’s Grand Prix in Râsnov is scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 AM.