The numbers are very clear and very impressive. Even with coronavirus measures meaning that not every athlete lined up for every start, and not all events could take place as scheduled, in the Nordic disciplines of Cross Country, Biathlon, Ski Jumping, and Nordic Combined, athletes from the Fischer Race Family stood on the podium 254 times following 142 events. They tallied 84 World Cup wins, 89 second places, 81 third places, and grabbed four of the eight Overall World Cup crystal globes along with eight of the thirteen smaller crystal globes for the Discipline World Cups. In the four Nordic disciplines, 60% of all podium spots were won on Fischer skis and boots, with 77% of them on a TURNAMIC® binding set-up.

Biathlon

Norwegian biathlete Tiril Eckhoff overcame a choppy start to become the high-flyer of the season and was nearly unbeatable towards the end. After giving away the Overall World Cup in the very last shooting round the previous year, the fiery competitor easily hauled in the large crystal globe this year with an incredible twelve season victories. The four-time world champion in Pokljuka also grabbed small crystal globes for wins in the Pursuit and the Sprint World Cup. Consistently good results allowed Germany’s Franziska Preuss and Sweden’s Hanna Öberg finish the season in third and fourth in the Overall World Cup. Lisa Theresa Hauser of Austria also had an overall strong season and, following her three World Championships medals, was rewarded with sixth place in the Overall World Cup along with a shared first place in the Individual World Cup with Italian Dorothea Wierer. Dzinara Alimbekava of Belarus was recognized as best U25 female athlete while taking seventh place in the Overall World Cup, thereby elevating herself into the world’s elite. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Norway took first place in the Mass Start World Cup and an impressive eighth place in the Overall World Cup.

On the men’s side, Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Bø survived a nerve-wracking showdown in the final race of the season to take his third Overall World Cup in a row. On top of that, the two-time world champion in Pokljuka won the Discipline World Cup in the Sprint. Right behind, in places three through five in the Overall World Cup, were three more members of the Fischer Race Family: Quentin Fillon Maillet of France, and countrymen Tarjei Bø and Johannes Dale of Norway. Thanks to strong finals performances, Italy’s Lukas Hofer and Sweden’s Martin Ponsiluoma landed in eighth and tenth place. On the women’s side, just as on the men’s, seven Fischer athletes made the jump into the top ten.

Cross-Country

Here, too, there were seven Fischer athletes in the top ten of the Cross Country World Cup at season’s end. Yulia Stupak of Russia announced her comeback to World Cup action after the birth of her son in a big way, getting stronger throughout the season and ultimately reaching second place in the Overall World Cup, followed very closely by Sweden’s Ebba Andersson in third. The absolutely unbeatable Therese Johaug of Norway, who took the crown in all four of her starts at the Oberstdorf World Championships, was unable to contend for the Overall World Cup, due to the Norwegian team’s late entry into the season. She did however still earn ninth place. Anamarija Lampic of Slovenia was the proud winner of the small crystal globe in the Sprint World Cup, where the previous year’s champion, Linn Svahn of Sweden, took third.

Thanks to his consistently solid performances, Russian Ivan Yakimushkin was able to grab second place in the men’s Overall. Norwegian Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, the three-time world champion in Oberstdorf, was only able to score in eight of a possible twenty six races due to Norway’s late start to the season. Yet he was still able to secure third place in the Overall World Cup. Russian countrymen Artem Maltsev in fifth, then Andrey Melnichenko and Denis Spitsov, then Sweden’s Oskar Svensson in places eight through ten, rounded out Fischer’s impressive representation in the top ten.

Even as recreational-level ski marathons were being cancelled due to the coronavirus, the VISMA Ski Classics series was able to continue with an abbreviated schedule. After defending champion Britta Johansson Norgren (Lager 157 Ski Team) was forced to sit out several races after experiencing signs of frostbite on her toes, Emilie Fleten (Team Koteng) stepped up and ended up with third place in the overall standings. The long distance racing shining star of the season on the men’s side was Emil Persson. The Swede, competing for the Lager 157 Ski Team, took the prestigious Marcialonga, followed by three more ski marathon victories. Along the way he won not just the yellow jersey as the overall winner, but also the pink jersey as the youth category leader, and the green jersey as the sprint leader, as well. Tord Asle Gjerdalen of Norway (Team XPND Fuel) successfully took the title in the Vasaloppet for Fischer setting a new record time and ended the season second overall in the VISMA Ski Classics, ahead of Oskar Kardin (Team Ragde Eiendom). In total, 17 Fischer Race Family athletes placing among the top 18 positions in this long distance race series underscored Fischer’s unquestioned dominance in this arena.

Ski Jumping

The last day of competition was also full of real statement performances on the jumping hill. Sara Marita Kramer of Austria set a new hill record of 146.5 meters (480.6 ft) in taking her seventh win of the season and third place in the Overall World Cup. The 20l21 winner’s large crystal globe was taken home by Slovenia’s Nika Kriznar. Fischer athletes impressed here, as well, placing seven in the top ten.

Germany’s Karl Geiger once again demonstrated the outstanding soaring prowess which earned him the world champion’s title in Ski Flying, as well as four world championships medals in Oberstdorf, as he claimed two finals victories in Planica and thus secured victory in the Ski Flying World Cup. Teammate, countryman, and fellow Fischer athlete Markus Eisenbichler stood next to him on the season’s final podium, finishing second in the Overall World Cup and third in the Ski Flying World Cup. Winner of the prestigious Four Hills Tournament, Kamil Stoch of Poland, was a strong third in the Overall.

Nordic Combined

Norway’s Gyda Westvold Hansen and Japan’s Anju Nakamura made history as they took second and third in the World Cup premier of the Nordic Combined.

On the men’s side, there was a World Cup triple victory for Fischer to celebrate: once again, Norway’s Jarl Magnus Riiber dominated the proceedings, and with ten World Cup victories easily won the large crystal globe for the third straight time, ahead of Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger and Japan’s Akito Watabe. Johannes Lamparter of Austria, one of the younger competitors, earned the sixth spot in the Overall. As a two-time winner in Oberstdorf also, he’s established himself among the world’s best, and let it be known that even the new generation of the Fischer Race Family is a force to be reckoned with.