Germany

Stoch Defends Olympic Gold in Ski Jumping's Large Hill

Kevin Bickner of the United States finished in 20th place

Defending champion Kamil Stoch won the gold medal for ski jumping's large hill at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

The 30-year-old Polish jumper had leaps of 135 and 136.5 meters for 285.7 points to beat normal hill gold medalist Andreas Wellinger of Germany, who took the silver. Robert Johansson of Norway won the bronze.

Stoch was left off the podium in Saturday's normal hill, finishing fourth behind Wellinger, Johann Andre Forfang and Johansson. 

First overall in the World Cup standings, Stoch was the favorite coming into the games.

Stoch won his second straight Four Hills tournament in Bischofshofen, Austria, on Jan. 6 to become only the second ski jumper in the long history of the sport to win all four stages of the prestigious event.

Japanese veteran Noriaki Kasai, the 2014 large hill silver medalist, failed to qualify for the final round.

Kevin Bickner of the United States finished in 20th place, having only come out of the qualifying round in 35th. He and fellow Norge Ski Club member Michael Glasder were the only two Americans to make it to the finals.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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