After the new Nordic Combined TRIPLE delighted fans and media alike on the past weekend, there is also probably not one superlative that has not been used to describe our Athlete of the Week Eric Frenzel. The 25-year-old quite literally made a triple out of the TRIPLE by winning all three competitions of the weekend.
This shortly before the Olympics, the German press went into a Nordic Combined euphoria: "The King of Seefeld" ,"Frenzel outclasses competitors", "Nordic Combined poster athlete", "unbeatable" or "historic achievement" are just some of the headlines adorning newspapers and websites one day after Frenzel's first of a kind-triumph. And really, what Frenzel demonstrated this past weekend in Seefeld was a clear message to all medal aspirants for Sochi: Who wants some precious metal in Russia needs to get past the German first.
Frenzel, who seems to be in the shape of his life, never showed even the smallest sign of weakness during four competition ski jumps and 30 kilometres of cross-country skiing and gave his competitors no chance. A 5, 10 or 15 kilometre-race, one or two competitions jumps, it doesn't matter as the German can do it all. Most impressive about Frenzel's victories was the ease, the mental strength and the calmness with which he tackles all kinds of situations in the competitions: Jumps in all kinds of wind conditions: no problem. Racing alone from start to finish: No problem. Catching up with an athlete before him and shaking him afterwards: no problem. And also while dealing the media frenzy surrounding the TRIPLE, Frenzel always kept his calm and modest but friendly and easygoing demeanor.
With his sixth win in Seefeld, five of them in a row, the 25-year-old from Oberwiesenthal has well and truly set himself up among the grand names of Nordic Combined, a fact also recognized by the other athletes. Fellow big name Magnus Moan's first deed after crossing the finish line as third on Sunday was to walk over to Frenzel and bow before the King of Seefeld… shortly before he took the champagne bottle he won at the Prize Giving Ceremony and gave his colleague a proper champagne shower. And while the Nordic Combined community is still celebrating its hero in style, there is only one ting left to do for us: all hail King Frenzel!
