257 days – that's how many days separated Piotr Żyła's last jumps in the World Cup at the end of March in Planica from his return after injury and the exceptionally late start of the new season in Wisła. The last time he was absent at the inauguration of winter was 14 years ago. Rehabilitation after the injury and the work the jumper did in the last months of preparation were so good that on Friday on the hill named after Adam Ma³ysz he was competitive not only with other Poles.
The great return of Piotr Żyła in Wisła. But he himself admitted: I was hooked
The seventh place in the qualifications after a jump of 130 meters should be considered his success. And regardless of the circumstances. Sure, he was flying in favorable conditions – there was an average wind speed of 1.11 meters per second against his skis. He hit it well, he was lucky, but he also knew how to use it all.
– This last one jump he was very cool. The training ones actually looked like training ones. Everything went better in the qualifying, but there's no denying that I had a lot of success in it – admits Żyła. – It was nice to fly then, I felt the air and I was able to use it – he adds.
The fact that none of the other Polish jumpers was better than Żyła, who was returning from injury, is quite telling and shows where Thomas Thurnbichler's team stands. Some competitors had conditions that were much more difficult, even completely different than Żyła, but at the same time it is difficult to explain the fact that the next competitor of the A team in the qualifying results, Dawid Kubacki, 18th, lost seven points to Żyła and jumped as much as ten meters closer.
The type of hill may suit Żyle – after all, he is from here and jumps in a very flying style, which the facility in Wisła-Malinka “promotes”, but according to coach Thurnbichler, these were also supposed to be advantages of Aleksander Zniszczoł and Paweł Wąsek. And they finished Friday's only series rated 27th and 35th, respectively.
Żyła revealed how he got back into shape after the injury. “It gives me hope”
Żyła returned to the ski jumping hill in autumn, after a knee injury and the longest break from ski jumping in his career in recent years. The fact that it took him a little longer to get back to the form that allows him to compete at the highest level should not be surprising. However, on Friday in Wisła he confirmed that he did exactly what he should have done at the right time.
– I have been working at an intense level for quite a long time. I'm starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of it. I didn't know at all what level and place I was at and what to expect. Now I don't really know yet, but it's nice that I can start and test myself – says Piotr Żyła.
How did the current world champion work on the normal hill? – This is not the time to change or mess around. I have one goal for each jump and so jump after jump I boringly do what I have to do. Stabilization is becoming greater and greater. This gives me hope. When we entered the ice tracks, I missed even jumps, because there were two and two that were not. Now it's relatively stable. There are probably no miracles or madness, but there is no tragedy either – says the jumper.
After Vein's jump, Thurnbichler immediately smiled broadly. “Nice to see”
After Thomas Thurnbichler saw where his competitor landed in qualifying, a wide smile appeared on the Austrian's face.
– It's nice to see how much motivation he has. He lost some time in training on the hill trying to adjust his equipment. It took him a while to adjust it properly. But it makes a difference in jumping. And now Piotrek is able to jump effectively and at a good level. Of course, not one where he could already be. But he is slowly getting closer – Thurnbichler assessed Żyła's situation before Friday's jumps in Wisła.
Was the coach afraid that Żyła might not return to a high level at all? – NO. A player returning from injury cannot be pressured. He has to do his own thing to gradually develop and improve. For one it will go faster, for another much slower. It is better not to set any goals for yourself in such a recovery process. The most important thing is not to lack motivation and the right approach to work, explains Thomas Thurnbichler.
At the end, Żyła showed his true face. And he confessed: I'm fat!
During a break from participating in the World Cup, Żyła admitted in an interview with TVP Sport in the program “3. Series”, that if necessary, he will also go to the “second series”. league” jumping, i.e. the Continental Cup. – At the moment I'm not thinking about where I will jump. But it's winter, the season has started, and I'm hungry for jumping, I miss it. I want to start. I don't want to train, but take part in competitions “The Continental Cup is also a start and if necessary, I would be happy to go there. I miss training in the summer,” says the ski jumper.
IN interview with Sport.pl About the difficulties in returning after a knee injury, Żyła pointed out that he “became lazy” without training on the hill, although he had ideas for himself outside his sport. At the same time, he now agrees that he misses jumping. – It's nice to be here again and feel the competition and adrenaline. I could remember how long it had been since I had this. I didn't feel like I was completely weaned from competition. On the hill I did what I know, nothing special. I have my own work system and so far I have been very focused on preparations. But the last time I felt what I felt now was in March in Planica. And now I actually have the same thing as then. Automatism has come into my mind, it's my ritual – he reveals.
At the end of the conversation, Żyła shows a face we all know. Although the words the journalists heard were probably even more surprising than the good performance shown by the Pole. It was about his confession about weight problems during his return from injury, which he told Eurosport.
When asked how big the problem was, he replied with jokes. – I'm fat again, so it's good, ha, ha. That was a month ago, and in that amount of time you can do a lot this way and a lot that way. Miracle diet? I won't reveal too much. Let me just say that I am fat but happy! – Żyła laughs.
This is the kind of Piotr we were missing – writing lyrics in his own style, joyful and reaching far away. May Żyła show the same version of himself in Wisła in Saturday's individual competition. The first round of competition is scheduled for 15:05. Live coverage on Sport.pl, and broadcast on Eurosport, TVN and the Max platform.