The 23-year-old’s total points score of 651.9 after three jumps at the German venue ensured that he won Norway’s first Ski Flying World Championship title since double Olympic bronze medallist Roar Ljøkelsøy achieved the feat in 2006.

Current FIS Ski Jumping World Cup rankings leader Kamil Stoch of Poland, who has won five of the last six events on the World Cup tour, finished second at today’s competition with a total score of 638.6.

Richard Freitag of Germany, who has collected seven World Cup medals so far this campaign and was the yellow bib holder until Stoch claimed it earlier this month, completed the podium lineup thanks to a points total of 627.6.

Slovakia’s Peter Prevc, who won the last Ski Flying World Championship in 2016 in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria, could only finish sixth today.

Earlier in the day, the Japanese team claimed the gold medal in the women's team event at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup event in Zaō

Japan’s four skiers, Kaori Iwabuchi, Yuka Seto, Yuki Ito and Sara Takanashi, posted a combined score of 761.7 points in eight jumps to ensure they won the title.

Ito recorded the best individual jump on the team with her 95 metre effort awarded 105.9 points.

Ito still insisted there was room for improvement.

"It is very important to win for our fans here in Zaō," she said. 

"My jumps are getting better, but I still have some work to do."

The Japanese team were a long way ahead of second-place Slovenia, who were awarded 706.8 points overall.

Nika Kriznar, who posted jumps with scores of 86.7m and 100.6m, still had reason to be satisfied with her performance, though.

Russia claimed the final spot on the podium with their total of 696.1 just 10.1 points behind Slovenia.

Tomorrow is due to be the last day of the competition in Zaō and sees the athletes return to individual action.