Domen Prevc of Slovenia holds a 14.0-point lead after the first day of the 2026 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany. The World Cup leader improved in the second round to overtake early pacesetter Marius Lindvik of Norway. Ren Nikaido of Japan sits second, with the competition set for two more rounds on Saturday.
The 2026 FIS Ski Flying World Championships kicked off in Oberstdorf, Germany, with Domen Prevc (SLO) emerging as the leader after the initial two rounds of the four-round individual event. Prevc, the 2024/25 Ski Flying Crystal Globe winner, posted a combined total of 442.2 points, securing a 14.0-point advantage over Ren Nikaido (JPN) in second place. Marius Lindvik (NOR), the 2022 world champion, finished the day third after leading following the first round.
In the opening round, Lindvik soared 226.5 meters for 214.6 points, edging Prevc by 1.4 points despite Prevc's 204.0-meter jump worth 213.2 points. Nikaido was third at that stage. Prevc rebounded strongly in the second round with a 224.5-meter effort scoring 229.0 points, vaulting into the lead. "I didn’t make my best jump in the first round, and the conditions weren’t the best either," Prevc said. "Now the battle has really heated up." He added, "The wind conditions were very changeable... I’m very happy that I managed a good jump in the second round. Now I can go to sleep calmly and continue the fight tomorrow."
Lindvik remained optimistic: "We have one day left and there are opportunities for sure. I will try my best. I'm very happy with my two good jumps today... Ski Flying is the most epic thing we have in ski jumping - it’s the most fun."
Jan Hoerl (AUT) and Anze Lanisek (SLO) rounded out the top five, while 2024 champion Stefan Kraft (AUT) placed tenth. Host nation standout Karl Geiger (GER) was 11th, and Slovenia's Timi Zajc, with prior world medals, landed 17th. Swiss veterans Simon Ammann and Felix Trunz disappointed, missing the top 30 in the first round and failing to qualify for subsequent rounds—Ammann 31st and Trunz 37th—in their battle for an Olympic ticket. Seeded Swiss jumpers Sandro Hauswirth (26th) and Gregor Deschwanden (30th) also underperformed. Ammann, in his 12th championships, will next compete in Sunday's team event.
Prevc seeks his first individual podium here, potentially joining Slovenian predecessors Robert Kranjec (2012) and brother Peter Prevc (2016) as world champions. The final rounds occur Saturday, followed by the men's team competition Sunday. Ski flying remains a non-Olympic discipline organized by the FIS exclusively for men.
