On Wednesday, Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi set an unofficial world record by flying 291 meters in Iceland. The event was organized by Red Bull and was dubbed as the longest ski jump in history. Kobayashi, who won the individual gold in the normal hill event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, took off from a specially set up hill on a slope in Akureyri and successfully landed after the jump.
Kobayashi expressed his excitement about achieving a distance he had always dreamed of. His goal was to reach 300 meters, and he was thrilled to have come so close. Despite the impressive feat, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation pointed out that the jump did not meet official conditions required to be considered a world record. The current official world record for ski jumping distance stands at 253.5 meters, set by Stefan Kraft of Austria in Norway in 2017.
The acknowledgment of Kobayashi’s jump by the federation adds another achievement to his career, which includes multiple victories and top finishes in ski jumping competitions around the world. With his determination and skill, Kobayashi continues to push the boundaries of the sport and inspire others to reach new heights in ski jumping.