With a leap of 134 metres, he earned 138.9 points to lead from Norway’s Jarl Magnus Riiber on 138.6 and Wilhelm Denifl of Austria (135.0) after all competitors had completed their jumps from the 142-metre large hill.

In the Nordic combined, each point’s advantage from the ski jump translates into a four-second head start in the 10-kilometre cross-country race that follows – making the event a test of daring, technique, and endurance.

Three Germans – Eric Frenzel, Johannes Rydzek, and Fabian Riessle – placed fourth through sixth in an event which Germany has never won an Olympic gold.

Watabe, silver medallist in the other Nordic combined event from the smaller normal hill last Wednesday, clapped his hands in delight on landing his jump successfully and realizing it was enough to take him into the lead.

The normal hill event was won by Frenzel, with Austria’s Lukas Klapfer taking the bronze.