Vinzenz Geiger Secures Bronze at World Championships in Riiber’s Farewell Show

Vinzenz Geiger fought through to clinch a bronze medal at the World Championships in Trondheim. Meanwhile, Jarl Magnus Riiber celebrated his third world title, waving the Norwegian flag long before Geiger crossed the finish line.

This marks Geiger’s fourth medal in Nordic combined World Championships, with the 27-year-old expressing his joy after a solid performance in the cross-country skiing segment. He finished behind the dominant Norwegian winner Riiber and his compatriot Jörgen Graabak.

„Four starts, four medals: that’s crazy,“ Geiger remarked. „It was a special week for me.“ On Friday, he had already bagged gold with the team, alongside a silver from the mixed team event and bronze from his first individual competition in Norway. He played a crucial role in all four medals for the German team, which had previously secured four silvers at the last World Championships.

Riiber Triumphs and Bids Farewell

The battle for gold was virtually decided after the ski jumping from the large hill. Riiber had an impressive jump of 139 meters, starting the 10-kilometer cross-country race with a significant lead of 1:14 minutes over the second place.

As a result, the focus shifted to the contest for the remaining podium spots. Six athletes engaged in a thrilling race, with Geiger, who started ninth with a considerable deficit, closing the gap remarkably. He outpaced his Oberstdorf teammate Julian Schmid, who finished sixth.

Geiger pushed himself to the limit until the final meter, while Riiber reveled in the last event of his farewell tour at the World Championships. Before descending into the packed stadium at Granasen Ski Center, he proudly accepted his home country’s flag and basked in the celebration.

Due to a chronic intestinal disease, the 27-year-old Riiber will retire after this season, marking the end of an era in Nordic combined sports. „There is no debate, he is the greatest of all time,“ Geiger had remarked recently about Riiber.