Five competitors have been disqualified from the Beijing Winter Olympics mixed team ski jumping final for uniform violations.
Their suits were reportedly deemed too large, which could give a skier a boost during the event, according to multiple reports. Skiers disqualified from Monday’s competition include Sara Takanashi of Japan, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, Katharina Althaus of Germany and Anna Odine Stroem and Silje Opseth of Norway.
Althaus told reporters after his disqualification: “We were looking forward to the second competition at the Olympics. [The International Ski Federation] destroyed that with this action – they destroyed women’s ski jumping.
“Our names are now (out) there and we just pulled the shit card. This is how you destroy nations, development and the whole sport,” she added, adding. reported Reuters.
Aga Baczkowska, head of the International Ski Federation, told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK it was up to each team to ensure their suits complied with the rules.
The International Ski Federation, in a statement to USA TODAY, said the competitors’ suits “have been produced exclusively for the Olympics” and have not been “previously tested” before the final. The organization proposed a test of the suits before the competition.
“The used suits that led to the disqualifications were too large and provided an aerodynamic advantage to the athlete,” the statement read.
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This year marked the first time the mixed team ski jumping event was included in the Winter Olympics. Countries that qualify for the event must enter two men and two women, according to NBC.
All disqualified competitors are women.
After the disqualifications, Opseth told reporters she wore the same costume to compete on Saturday without officials raising any concerns.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m really shaken. I’m sorry I got disqualified today,” she said, Reuters reported.
The Slovenian team won the gold medal in this event, while athletes from the Russian Olympic Committee won the silver medal and Canada the bronze medal.
Canada’s Abigail Strate said: “Equipment is very important in sport and disqualifications happen.
“It’s a very common thing that happens in ski jumping and the fact that it happened in the Olympics just shows that they were sticking to the rules quite strictly and seriously, because it’s the sport most high,” she said. Yahoo! reported.
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