“I’m very happy about the title because I’ve been working towards it for a long time. Now it’s finally worked out again,” said Sölkner, who won his last national championship title five years ago. Sölkner from Upper Austria was lucky because heavy rain started to fall just as he pushed off from the starting ramp. “I noticed it on my goggles in the lower part, but the driving conditions were exactly the same for me. The conditions were perfect,” said Sölkner.
The old and new national champion Ruetz lived up to her role as favorite. The 20-year-old local hero set the fastest time in both runs and showed no nerves. “On paper, I was the top favorite, but you have to make it to the finish line first,” said the Tyrolean. “But I can do it, and I trusted that. I really managed two top runs.”
Austria Sport Finals in Innsbruck
More than 6,500 athletes will determine their best in 45 sports and over 200 medal decisions and crown their Austrian champions.
Wild national champion in sports aerobics
With a brilliant freestyle, Katharina Wild was crowned national champion in sports aerobics for the first time. The Lower Austrian, who came third last year, won with 18,000 points ahead of Tyrolean Anna Höger (17,900). The favorite defending champion Laura Baumgartner had to settle for third place with 17,850 points this time.
Nik Hadzhiev Katharina Wild won the national title of sports aerobics for the first time thanks to a brilliant freestyle
Meanwhile, there were victories for the favorites at the Kata national championships for judoka, which celebrated their debut at the fourth edition of the multi-sport event. Vanessa Wenzl/Matthias Heinrich, who have already been on the podium twice at European Cups this year, won the Katame-no-Kata as expected, while Martin and Philipp Hinteregger won the Nage-no-Kata and then also won their specialty discipline (Kodokan Goshin-Jutsu).
Karate ace Lind shows her potential
The Kumite competitions were no less spectacular. Despite the absence of the young hopefuls Lejla Topalovic and Marina Vukovic, who are competing in the Premier League in Casablanca, the local karate aces showed their potential. Above all, Jana Lind, who achieved a convincing victory in the final in her category (-55 kg). After finishing third last year, the Styrian was crowned Austrian national champion for the first time in a thrilling final against Can Dilek.
The first decision of the Sport Austria Finals in Innsbruck was made on Wednesday during the opening ceremony. In the women’s orienteering sprint, Ylvi Kastner secured her first national championship title. In the men’s event, Matthias Reiner from Carinthia celebrated his first title. ORF reports daily on the competitions.
Further TV schedule
Alles live in ORF Sport +
Freitag:
4.00 pm: Wakeboarding
6:00 p.m.: Climbing (lead climbing)
8 p.m.: “Sport 20” with Sport Austria Finals
Saturday:
2 p.m.: Archery
3:00 p.m.: Trampoline
16.00 Uhr: Cheerleading
8 p.m.: “Sport 20” with Sport Austria Finals
Sunday:
13:00: Men’s water polo final
2.30 p.m.: Inline hockey
8 p.m.: “Sport 20” with Sport Austria Finals
