Stick shooter Felix Karpfinger (16) from SC Oberhummel helped the German U19 national team to EM silver.
In the individual final, however, it did not go at all.
Oberhummel
- great success for Felix Karpfinger: The 16-year-old stick shooter from SC Oberhummel won silver in the team competition with the German U19 national team on Friday.
At the European Championships in long distance shooting in the Ritten Arena in Klobenstein (South Tyrol), however, Karpfinger experienced a real rollercoaster of emotions at the weekend.
The team competition on Friday started anything but optimal for the student from Wörth: The first of five attempts slipped off the track early, the second landed at an indisputable 70.41 meters, before the third failed again completely - the Oberhummler athlete made it invalid.
In the fourth round, however, everything suddenly came together for Felix Karpfinger: his stick ran and ran - up to a width of 114.28 meters.
One of the best distances that the 16-year-old had ever achieved in a competition and which surprised him: “On Friday I was a bit disappointed because I had three invalid attempts.
But the one, the fourth - I don't know exactly where it came from - I got along with it.
I was so happy to be able to help our team secure second place. "
Karpfinger hits 114.28 meters in the fourth attempt
The top performance of the stick shooter from SC Oberhummel was urgently needed.
Because the other German actors had not had their best day either.
In particular, U19 veteran Bastian Simon from SV Hagenhill remained far below his possibilities.
He had five valid attempts - but the furthest was just over 97 meters, which was not even enough to qualify for the individual finals on Saturday.
By far the best distance in the German team was Felix Karpfinger, who made a significant contribution to winning the silver medal.
He also bought the ticket for the finals of the six best in the individual competition on Saturday.
But this competition completely missed the student from Wörth - the insecurities when putting the sports equipment straight on were also glaring from the athlete's point of view: “The final was very weak from me.
The stick kept shaking - I couldn't get it straight onto the ice. ”With every failed attempt, the 16-year-old's dissatisfaction increased.
Conclusion: He did not achieve a single valid rating and came in sixth.
Joy on Friday, frustration on Saturday
A bitter disappointment for Felix Karpfinger: “With the exception of the one attempt on Friday, little went together for me.
I can't explain to myself why I was so bad this weekend.
But my, you have days like that.
There is only one thing to do: check it off, take the experience with you and do better next year. "
Despite the frustration on Saturday, the young athlete could look forward to silver in the U19 team competition.
After all, he has proven that he can also shoot in the older age group.
In the coming months he will have to work intensively on the automation of a round, fluid sequence of movements, says the newly crowned European runner-up.
"I'll be able to do this by next year so that I can get to the front of the pack."
Josef Fuchs
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