Depuis le début du siècle, quelques filles courageuses sautent sur les tremplins mais il a fallu attendre l'hiver 2004/2005 pour que la FIS lance une série Continental Cup, puis 2006 avec la création des Mondiaux juniors.
En 2009 les filles font enfin leur apparition au championnat du monde de Liberec, puis on les retrouve deux ans plus tard à Oslo. La récompense olympique sera pour 2014 à Sotchi.
Aujourd'hui c'est de coupe du monde dont on va parler avec dès samedi le premier concours de l'histoire à ce niveau sur le site des JO 1994 à Lillehammer. Un tremplin prestigieux pour une ouverture en fanfare et une première gagnante qui restera à jamais dans la grande histoire du ski.
Les candidates au podium sont nombreuses mais pour la victoire les spécialistes misent en majorité sur la championne du monde Autrichienne Daniela Iraschko.
En France nous avons la chance de posséder un véritable diamant avec Coline Mattel. Médailée de bronze lors des mondiaux 2011, la Haut-Savoyarde jouera le podium sur chaque concours tout comme ses rivales Takanashi, Runggaldier, Jerome, Vtic, Graessler, Faisst, Haefele sans oublier les expérimentées Norvégiennes Sagen et Jahr.
On retrouvera également en équipe de France les talentueuses Julia Clair et Lea Lemare.
A noter que la championne du monde 2009, l'Américaine Lindsey Van, manquera l'ouverture à Lillehammer en raison d'une opération à la hanche.
Quelques points de règlement
Pour sauter en coupe du monde, une fille doit être âgée de plus de quinze ans. Chaque nation peut inscrire au maximum six filles. L'indice BMI (Body Mass Index) autorisé maximum sera de 20.5.
Les déclarations juste avant ce concours de Lillehammer (source FIS)
Coline Mattel : "Quand j'ai commencé à sauter toute jeune, je ne savais même pas que des compétitions existaient pour les filles. Je pensais que seuls les garçons avaient cette chance alors les JO sont toujours restés un rêve lointain. Puis en grandissant j'ai découvert la Continental Cup et mes rivales. Quelques années plus tard mon rêve devient réalité avec les JO qui se profilent en 2014 et maintenant la coupe du monde. Je suis très excitée mais aussi anxieuse avant ce premier concours en Norvège. Nous voulons toutes élever notre niveau et présenter aux TV un spectacle de haut niveau."
Daniela Iraschko (AUT),(photo) 2011 World Champion and dominant athlete over the past years: "It is the best ever to see that women Ski Jumping continues to move forward to get one of the most important wintersports that women could choose. I hope my knee will be stable enough for doing well in Lillehammer and in the whole season."
Elena Runggaldier (ITA) is runner up of the 2011 Ski Jumping World Championships in Oslo: "This season will be very exciting for ladies Ski Jumping. The feeling along the ladies is incredible. We are all very happy and proud that our discipline got the World Cup circuit and that our sport is finally included in the program of the Olympic Winter Games. Now it's time to start and enjoy this big change!"
2009 World Champion Lindsey Van (USA): "I am very excited about the World Cup. It is great to see our sport moving forward in the direction we need it to. For me it is a great thing. I have been jumping when we had no ladies competitions and now we have World Cup. It has changed a lot and I am so happy about that. Everybody is really excited this season. We have great competitions, and now the rest of the world can see this too."
Ulrike Graessler (GER),(photo ci-dessous) runner-up at the 2009 World Championships: "I'm very happy about the World Cupbecause it is an important step for our sport. I think that the National Federations will improve their efforts in view of the 2014 Olympics. I guess that therefore we'll get more acceptance and audience especially when we are shown also on television. It is nice to get the attention for which we have waited for so long time. It has been a long road for the ladies to make it to the Olympics...and now finally. There have been highs and lows along the way. We have fought a hard fight against a lot of prejudieces. I'm happy that we are now in the situation to focus on the sport and not on answers of questions why we are not allowed to jump at the Olympics and why we have only a COC and not World Cup. We are equal to other sports now.
Katja Pozun (SLO) , winner of an COC competition in Rovaniemi on Tuesday: "I think its very important for Ladies’ Ski Jumping and further developments of this. Many people still doesn’t know that women also jump, so now they will see us on television sometimes and they will be more informed about us.”
Sara Takanashi (JPN): “I am very honored and excited to be able to compete in the first World Cup. I am still very young and to be able to compete in a World Cup event is unbelievable. The Olympic event is also very exciting and we could not have got in without the support of many. I am looking forward to the Olympics.”
Melanie Faisst (GER): “I am excited when thinking about the first World Cup and the first World Cup season. It is a big honour for be to be a little part of this. But, to be honest, we have had to wait quite long for it... I think that it is also in regard of Sochi a huge step in right direction. People and Media will take notice from us. It is unbelievable that we'll be shown now on television. It is clear that family, parents, friends, people you know not always have the possibility to be on site. But now, they have the chance to have always an eye on us. Being on TV is something very special!
Anna Haefele (GER): “It is very important to me that we start in our first World Cup season. We have fought many years for it, now we are there where we want. The World Cup is another step in directionSochi, especially regarding the popularity of the sport and regarding media coverage. Many people do not know yet that also women can jump. Now we have to opportunity to prove it. It is just great to be part of this special moment... At the end, we are writing a little piece of sports history. And it gives us the sense to be accepted finally.
Jessica Jerome (USA): “It is a very important step to have World Cup to further the sport for women. I think all the girls are excited to be able to participate in this season and everyone is working very hard to be the best. I hope that there will be many different girls and different countries on the podium to represent the depth within the sport. I also hope that we will see many new girls from new countries coming in.
Being shown on TV will be especially great for the growth of the sport. Now, young girls can watch Ski Jumping on TV and perhaps aspire to do the same thing. It will also be good for the current competitors, and hopefully open more doors for sponsorship opportunities and greater exposure.”