Latest news with #Wisla
CBC
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Canadian ski jumper Abigail Strate completes medal weekend with 2nd bronze in Poland
Canada's Abigail Strate won bronze Sunday for her fourth consecutive ski jumping medal on the Summer Grand Prix. The 24-year-old from Calgary landed on the podium with 116.4 points in Wisla, Poland, while Slovenia's Nika Prevc captured gold (126.2) and Japan's Nozomi Maruyama (117.5) took silver. "I'm a summer person for sure. I like the sun and have always liked jumping in the summer," said Strate, who's also a graphic designer. "The last time I jumped well in the summer, it carried into the whole year so hopefully this is a good omen for me." Calgary's Nicole Maurer, the only other Canadian in the deep field, finished 26th. Strate, who took bronze in the mixed team ski jumping event at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, became the second Canadian ski jumper to medal in two straight events on back-to-back weekends, joining teammate Alex Loutitt. Strate opened the Olympic campaign last weekend with bronze in France. It was her first career summer ski jumping podium. She delivered a golden encore, celebrating her first international victory a day later, before earning another bronze in Poland on Saturday. "In my heart, this is so fun, and I have many positive emotions," she said. "It feels great for me now, but I know this isn't when I want to be great. I really hope this can last until the start of the winter and through the season."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three straight for Calgary's Abigail Strate, as ski jumper scores another grand-prix medal
WISLA, Poland — Make it three podiums in a row for Canadian ski jumper, Abigail Strate, on the Summer Grand Prix. The colourful Canuck from Calgary soared to the bronze medal Saturday — her third medal in as many competitions — in the women's large hill test in Wisla, Poland. 'I was feeling a little nervous up there on the first jump — I was just trying to focus on the things my coaches told me to do,' said the 24-year-old Strate. 'I actually wasn't very satisfied with either of the jumps. I was a little messy on the takeoffs, but they still worked out and got me on the podium 'So I can't complain.' That's for sure. Strate, a graphic designer when not taking flight off hills around the world, racked up 231.4 points in her two attempts on the large hill in Poland. Slovenia's Nika Prevc was first at 247.9, while Japan's Nozomi Maruyama landed on the silver-medal step of the podium at 240.5 points. Nicole Maurer, who also hails from Calgary, was the only other Canadian in the deep field and placed 19th at 156.3. Strate has been soaring with confidence early this season. She opened the Olympic campaign last weekend with a bronze medal in France. It was her first career summer ski-jumping podium. She delivered a golden encore, celebrating her first international victory one day later. 'I'm definitely flying with greater confidence,' Strate said. 'I knew I was training really well. My jumping has been progressing and is more consistent, so I think my whole jump is more confident than it's ever been. Each one of these successes builds on that. I'm loving ski jumping, and ski jumping is loving me right now, so the confidence just grows with each jump I take that works out. I am looking to keep it going.' Strate is taking a new approach this season into her flight path that is headed towards the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February. 'I decided this year I'm leaving nothing out,' said Strate, who was part of Canada's Olympic bronze-medal winning squad in the mixed-team event in 2022. 'I'm putting everything I have into this season. Subconsciously, I think I always held myself back a bit, but I'm looking to crack into my full potential this year and leave nothing out there. I'm taking that approach every day. I'm happy with the result and looking to improve the quality of the jumps again (Sunday).' This is the second time in her career that Strate has rattled off three podium performances in a row. She flew to three consecutive podium performances in 2023-24, closing out 2023 with a bronze and silver medal before ringing in the 2024 new year with another bronze. The only other podium finish in Strate's eight-year career came when she won the bronze in Hinterzarten, Germany, in January 2023. Three of Strate's four medals in winter leaping have also come on large hills. 'It's weird, because I actually jump better on a 90-metre hill,' Strate said. 'I just haven't trained as much on the large hills. Flying is where I usually make my mistakes, and when you jump on a large hill, you obviously fly longer. But when I'm jumping well, it works on both. Jumping well is about confidence, and when I'm confident, I won't hold myself back and am willing to push myself which you have to do in a sport like this.' Ski jumping is performed in the summer on an in-run where the tracks are made from porcelain and the grass on the slope is covered with water-soaked plastic. A core part of an athlete's development and season-long competition schedule, summer ski jumping began in 1994 for men. Women began jumping competitively during the summer months in 2012. Strate will launch off the HS134 hill in Poland with the best in the world once again Sunday. — Postmedia Sports
CBC
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Calgary's Abigail Strate earns bronze at ski jumping Summer Grand Prix in Poland
Calgary's Abigail Strate won her third consecutive medal on the Summer Grand Prix on Saturday, earning bronze in the women's large hill test in Wisla, Poland. Strate, a graphic designer when not taking flight off hills around the world, racked up 231.4 points in her two attempts. Slovenia's Nika Prevc won gold at 247.9, while Japan's Nozomi Maruyama earned silver with 240.5 points. Calgary's Nicole Maurer was the only other Canadian in the deep field, finishing 19th at 156.3. Strate opened the Olympic campaign last weekend with a bronze medal in France. It was her first career summer ski jumping podium. She delivered a golden encore, celebrating her first international victory a day later. "I'm definitely flying with greater confidence. I knew I was training really well. My jumping has been progressing and is more consistent, so I think my whole jump is more confident than it's ever been," said Strate in a Ski Jumping Canada media release. "Each one of these successes builds on that. I'm loving ski jumping, and ski jumping is loving me right now, so the confidence just grows with each jump I take that works out. I am looking to keep it going." Strate is taking a new approach this season into her flight path that is headed towards the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February. "I decided this year I'm leaving nothing out. I'm putting everything I have into this season. Subconsciously I think I always held myself back a bit, but I'm looking to crack into my full potential this year and leave nothing out there," added Strate, who was part of Canada's Olympic bronze medal winning squad in the mixed-team event in 2022. "I'm taking that approach every day. I'm happy with the result and looking to improve the quality of the jumps again tomorrow." She will launch off the HS134 hill in Poland with the best in the world once again on Sunday. This is the second time in her career that Strate has had three consecutive podiums. She closed out 2023 with a bronze and silver medal before ringing in 2024 with another bronze. The only other podium finish in Strate's eight-year career came when she won the bronze in Hinterzarten, Germany in January 2023. Three of Strate's four medals in winter leaping have also come on large hills. "It's weird because I actually jump better on a 90 metre hill. I just haven't trained as much on the large hills. Flying is where I usually make my mistakes, and when you jump on a large hill you obviously fly longer. But, when I'm jumping well it works on both," she said. "Jumping well is about confidence, and when I'm confident, I won't hold myself back and am willing to push myself which you have to do in a sport like this. Ski jumping is performed in the summer on an in-run where the tracks are made from porcelain and the grass on the slope is covered with water-soaked plastic. A core part of an athlete's development and season-long competition schedule, summer ski jumping began in 1994 for men. Women began jumping competitively during the summer months in 2012.
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First Post
05-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
US sending Patriot air defence system based in Israel to Ukraine amid truce offer row with Russia
In the coming months, Ukraine is expected to get two more Patriot air defence systems at a time when Russia has stepped up aerial bombardment read more A general view of surface-to-air missile launchers of the Patriot (Wisla) system newly added into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) at an army base in Sochaczew, Poland, December 18, 2024. (Photo: Reuters) As Russia has stepped up attacks, Ukraine is about to get two more Patriot air defence systems in the coming months. The United States is sending one Patriot air defence system currently deployed in Israel to Ukraine and Germany or Greece are arranging one system from amongst themselves, according to The New York Times. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been asking more air defence systems, particularly the US-made Patriots, for several months. US President Donald Trump had berated him last month for such requests, saying that he was 'always looking to purchase missiles'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraine currently has eight Patriot systems and six of them are currently operational, as per The Times. Patriot is a surface-to-air (SAM) missile system that is used for defence against aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. It comprises radar, guiding system, and missiles. The radar can detect incoming threats as far as 150 kilometres away and launch guided missiles accordingly to neutralise them. Patriot transfer approved by Biden: Report A former White House official told The Times that the transfer of Patriot system from Israel to Ukraine was approved by former President Joe Biden. The Patriot system is currently being refurbished in Israel and would be transferred to Ukraine by the end of the summer, according to the newspaper. Even as Trump has been dismissive of Ukrainian requirements, the Department of Defense told the newspaper that 'it continues to provide equipment to Ukraine from previously authorised' packages. Of the eight Patriot systems with Ukraine at the moment, only six are functional and two are in the process of being refurbished, as per the newspaper. The news of the transfer comes at a time when Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks as Trump has increasingly supported Russia. While Trump had always been critical of the support for Ukraine and friendly with Russia, he has aligned the United States completely with Russia in his second term. He has entered into negotiations with Russia for a reset in bilateral relationships and has floated peace plans that contain some of the biggest Russian demands. However, Russia has still rejected all three ceasefire proposals and one comprehensive plan floated by Trump. Yet it is Ukraine that Trump has bashed repeatedly instead of Russia or its leader. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poland to sign air defence deal with US worth almost $2 billion
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland and the United States will sign an agreement worth nearly $2 billion for the delivery of logistical support for the Patriot air defence system, Poland's defence minister said on Monday. Poland is ramping up its defence capabilities, positioning itself as a key player on NATO's eastern flank in the face of an assertive Russia and also of a U.S. administration under Donald Trump that has sharply criticised Europe over security matters. "The safety of Polish skies has no price," Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told a news briefing on Monday, adding that missile defence and cooperation with the United States are a priority. Kosiniak-Kamysz later confirmed to Reuters by text message that the value of the contract was almost $2 billion. The agreement with the U.S. concerns the delivery of logistical support for the Patriot system within the Armed Forces and includes technical support components as well as training. Poland's defence ministry said implementing the agreement would enable the operational readiness of Patriot launchers, which form the foundation of the Wisla programme. It aims to counter, among other things, short-range tactical ballistic missiles, including manoeuvring missiles. Poland acquired its first two Patriot system batteries from the United States in 2018 under the Wisla programme. Spurred by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has become NATO's top spender in terms of the proportion of its national wealth devoted to defence. Warsaw said it will spend 4.1% of gross domestic product on defence in 2024 with a pledge to increase this to 4.7% in 2025. Polish President Andrzej Duda has proposed enshrining defence spending of at least 4% of GDP in the constitution.
