Philipp Raimund of Germany wins gold in thrilling normal hill ski jump at Milan Cortina Olympics

PREDAZZO, Italy (AP) — Philipp Raimund stared down the icy hill Monday as the crowd roared below, took a deep breath and sped toward his destiny, knowing he needed not to explode off the jump if he was going to land the performance of his life.

“Usually the issue is that I have too much power in my legs and therefore the movement is a bit unstable,” he said. “So I knew just standing up and just let it fly.”

The German did just that and led two other Olympic rookies and a veteran of the Games who had never reached the podium past a field of former medalists and world champions to win gold in the men’s normal hill ski jump at the Milan Cortina Winter Games.

With a best jump of 106.5 meters and 274.1 points, Raimund beat Kacper Tomasiak of Poland, who won silver, and Ren Nikaido of Japan who tied with Gregor Deschwanden of Switzerland for the bronze in a thrilling event that came down to the last jump.

Raimund was ranked sixth in the world coming into his first Olympics. His best result was a fourth place in the world championships in the team event and only one win in the World Cup circuit for the mixed team event.

He was first after the opening round, with Valentin Foubert of France in second and Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal of Norway in third.

But Nikaido then landed a whopping 106.5 meters in his final jump, pumping his fist, confident he was going to win a medal.

He was then followed by Deschwanden and Tomasiak, who both reached 107 meters.

Foubert and Sundal could not beat those jumps, but the final result was going to depend on Raimund, who had flown 102 meters in his first jump.

Raimund made the most important jump of his life and earned high points for style that put him in first.

“I’ve never won a World Cup, so now I’m Olympic champion and I will be known probably for the rest of my life because I have a gold medal and that is un(expletive)believable,” he said.

Deschwanden was the only veteran of the four, competing in his fourth Olympics. His best result was eighth in large hill team event in 2022 in Beijing and sixth in the same event at the 2023 world championships.

“I tried a lot of times to finally get a medal," he said. “I have to say I didn’t expect it today after such a season, but in the end you get in the flow, it’s your day, and I had it today.”

The four beat out a field including defending champion Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan, the reigning world champion Marius Lindvik of Norway, two-time Olympic gold medalist Andreas Wellinger and Kamil Stoch, Poland’s most successful ski jumper who owns three Olympic gold medals.

They also beat Domen Prevc, from a powerhouse Slovenian family of decorated ski jumpers, who entered the event as defending world champion on the large hill and the top-ranked skier in the World Cup this season.

Prevc is trying to join his sister, Nika, in becoming the first brother-sister pair to medal in ski jumping at the same Olympics.

Nika Prevc, a defending world champion on both hills and World Cup leader this season, took the silver medal Saturday in the women's normal hill competition.

The normal hill is not Domen Prevc's strength, though he landed his best jump on his final attempt at 105 meters and ended up in sixth place. He is likely to join his sister in the mixed team event Tuesday.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Gregor Deschwanden, of Switzerland, reacts after his first round jump of the ski jumping men's normal hill individual at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ren Nikaido, of Japan, soars through the air during his first round jump of the ski jumping men's normal hill individual at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kacper Tomasiak, of Poland, right, celebrates with teammates Kamil Stoch and Pawel Wasek, left, after his final round jump during the ski jumping men's normal hill individual at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Philipp Raimund, of Germany, soars through the air during his final round jump in the ski jumping men's normal hill individual at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Philipp Raimund, of Germany, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the ski jumping men's normal hill individual at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Predazzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — It took Ismael Saibari only 21 minutes to score a goal for Morocco in his World Cup debut.

Barely a minute was enough time for him to get on the scoreboard in his second outing.

Saibari drilled a shot into the top corner of the net a mere 72 seconds into Friday's 1-0 win over Scotland at Gillette Stadium, keeping alive Morocco's chances of advancing to its second straight World Cup knockout round.

“We wanted three points and we got them,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said.

Morocco's ball movement caught Scotland on its heels at the very start.

Saibari slipped behind two Scotland defenders and Brahim Diaz dropped the ball over the top to him. The 25-year-old forward gathered and blasted it into the top left corner, well outside the reach of goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Morocco, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup in Qatar, drew 1-1 with Brazil in its Group C opener with Saibari scoring the lone goal. Scotland, which hasn’t gotten out of the group stage in its eight previous World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.

Scotland was outshot 12-6 on Friday, struggling to get clear looks against Morocco’s defense.

The negative result didn't affect Scotland coach Steve Clarke's confidence in his team.

“We gave them a game," Clarke said. "We’re sure we can compete at this level.”

Morocco nearly scored another in the 52nd minute when a header by Bilal El Khannouss off Achraf Hakimi’s corner kick was battled down by Gunn.

Scotland had a chance in first-half stoppage time when Andy Robertson sent a cross at John McGinn, who couldn’t get a foot on it near the back post.

As Scotland pressed for an equalizing goal in the closing minutes, Morocco had a pair of good chances to add to their lead, but both missed the target.

“I thought the performance didn’t match the result, if I’m honest,” Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson said. “We took the game to them. So there are positives from both games that certainly we can take into this last game.”

Scotland will face Brazil in its final Group C match on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco will take on Haiti at the same time in Atlanta.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn (1) blocks a shot at goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, top right, scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, left, scores his side's opening goal pst Scotland's Jack Hendry during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, top right, scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, left, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)