Olympic ski jumpers slam officials after 5 skiers disqualified for outfits: ‘I have no words’
Slovenia victory in the Olympic The debut of the mixed team ski jumping event on Monday was overshadowed by a number of disqualifications for costume violations which led several outraged athletes and coaches to criticize the sport’s governing body.
Five female ski jumpers, from Germany, Austria, Norway and Japan, have all been disqualified from the competition after officials said their ski suits did not comply with International Federation of Skiing rules. skiing (FIS).
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According to Yahoo Sportsthe suits were deemed too baggy, apparently giving skiers an edge on their jumps.
German Nordic events manager Horst Huttel, whose team was the favorite ahead of the event, said, via Reuters, that the situation was “scandalous”.
Katharina Althaus of Germany competes in the first round of mixed team ski jumping at the National Ski Jumping Center in Zhangjiakou, north China’s Hebei province, 7 February 2022.
(Photo by Mu Yu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“It’s a travesty, but I’m not laughing… It’s outrageous that this is happening with the four biggest ski jumping nations.”
German silver medalist Katharina Althaus was one of the disqualified skiers. She criticized the FIS for what she said was “destroying” the sport.
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“I have no words for the decisions that were made today,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “Our sport has been damaged by this… Athletes and their dreams have been destroyed. I’m sorry but I have NEVER in 11 years!!! [been] disqualified.”
“I’m so disappointed and angry. We really did everything to be here and did our best… I’m devastated and I can’t understand it,” she continued.
Sara Takanashi of Team Japan shows her dejection after being disqualified after jumping during the mixed team ski jumping final at the National Ski Jumping Center on February 07, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Norway‘s Silje Opseth and Anna Odine Stroem, Japan’s Sara Takanashi and Austria’s Daniela Iraschko-Stolz were also among the skiers dismissed for pursuit violations.
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“I think they checked it in a new way today compared to what they had done before, I think it’s very strange that they suddenly change the way they do it in the middle of ‘a tournament,” Opseth said.
Norway’s Silje Opseth competes in the mixed team ski jumping final at the National Ski Jumping Center in Zhangjiakou, north China’s Hebei province, Feb.
(Photo by Jiang Kehong/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I don’t know what to say. I’m really shaken. I’m sorry I got disqualified today.”
Slovenia won the gold medal with a score of 1,000.5 points, followed by the Russian Olympic Committee and Canada.