8 seconds in weightlessness over the snow — you hold your breath. Only the sound of the drone filming the scene breaks the surrounding tranquility of the mountains. These impressive photos of Ryoyu Kobayashi’s jump have gone around the world. On Wednesday 24 April, the Japanese flew 291 meters in Akureyri (Iceland), thus breaking the official jump record of 37.5 metres.
This feat completes an already extensive track record. At 27, Kobayashi has 32 individual victories and two combined World Cup titles, as well as individual gold and silver medals at the 2022 Olympics.
Unfortunately for the athlete, the record will not be approved. Categorical refusal from the International Ski Federation. We are talking about the distance measuring system, the springboard and the athlete’s equipment, which have not been verified by the same federation. The official record remains held by the Austrian Stefan Kraft, with 253.3 meters in 2017 in Virkersund (Norway). “This jump has been a dream of mine for a long time because I have always wanted to jump further than anyone else and I will continue to push the limits,” the athlete said in a press release from sponsor Red Bull. For weeks, the energy drink brand has been working behind the operation. Because behind this feat lie months of training and preparation.
Two years of research were needed to find the natural area of Hlidarfjall, in the north of Iceland. And two more months to build the springboard that Ryoyu Kobayashi took off. With a height of 1,115 meters and a height difference of 360 meters, it should allow the champion to get all the speed necessary for his jump. The athlete could thus reach a top speed of 107 km/h at the start and was suspended in the air for eight seconds. Initially, Kobayashi was aiming for the 300 meter flight mark.
Related Posts
European Championship 2024. Knee surgery, the Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager withdraws from the competition
Olympic Games in 2024, Tom Daley will experience his fifth Games in Paris
