Liberec, Czech Republic  - Austria has always been associated with having first-class ski-jumpers, and now this also shows in the record books.

Thomas Morgenstern gave Austria a first overall World Cup title in a dozen years in 2008, Wolfgang Loitzl won the nation's first Four Hills title in nine years in January and on Saturday also ended an 18-year drought for an individual world title.

Loitzl won on the normal hill from compatriot Gregor Schlierenzauer and it would have even been a sweep had not double Olympic champion Thomas Morgenstern failed to stand his second jump.

"This is fantastic to win gold and silver after such a great season," said head coach Alexander Pointner. "I am happy for the athletes, they were so focused on the world championships."

Saturday's success came as no surprise after several weeks of dominance.

Simon Ammann of Switzerland, who took bronze on Saturday, was an early season leader, but it was Austria all the way from New Year's Day onwards.

Loitzl got his first three World Cup wins to claim the Four Hill Tour and together with Schlierenzauer won 12 of 13 events contested in 2009. The only non-Austrian winner was Finland's Harri Olli last week Saturday on the ski-flying hill in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Austrian ski federation director Toni Innauer, an Olympic normal hill champion from 1980, named the success "immensely important" and Pointner was also relieved that his jumpers had lived up to the high expectations.

Loitzl, who like many others rose through the famed ski gymnasium in Stams, was given "superstar" status by Pointner as the 29-year-old completed the breakthrough in the dusk of his career.

On Saturday, he showed nerves like steel on the normal hill event which is not contested at all on the World Cup and where the tiniest mistake can prove disastrous because the points margins between jumpers are small.

Loitzl soared 103.5 metres and 99m for a winning total of 282 points while the first-round leader Olli met disaster and faded to 13th. Norway's Anders Jacobsen dropped from third to 17th while holder Adam Malysz of Poland managed no better than 22nd on the day.

"I had two good jumps and I think I deserved it. Getting a medal was a goal of mine for a long time. It was a perfect day," said Loitzl.

Loitzl and Schlierenzauer were especially pleased that they warmed to the hill after the first rounds of training saw them jump poorly.

"I had bad jumps in training but two good jumps yesterday which gave me confidence," said Loitzl. Schlierenzauer said: "I am very satisfied because I had my best jumps in the competition."

More silverware looms in Liberec in the large hill where Schlierenzauer is the top favourite. Austria is also the two-time reigning team event world champion.

"It is an advantage to have a medal, I now look forward to the large hill," said Schlierenzauer, and Loitzl said that "we know we are strong and we are the favourites in the team event."

Loitzl also has the chance to become only the fifth man in world championship history to get a normal hill and large hill double. A team trophy as well would make him the first three-time champ. (dpa)