“Practically everyone cheats”
A ski jumper at the World Cup in Willingen
Source: dpa/Swen gatekeeper
The ski jumping scene is in turmoil. An active jumper raises the most serious allegations anonymously in an interview. Accordingly, the World Cup is cheated across the board. The reactions are not long in coming.
Dhe statements by a ski jumper about tricks and bungling in the suit inspection met with incomprehension and criticism from the German athletes. “I think it’s a very bold statement. It is competitive sport, everyone tries to go to the limit,” said Andreas Wellinger. An active ski jumper who was not named had told the Swiss newspaper “Blick” that controls were rarely looked at very closely despite strict requirements. “At the moment I can’t take the suit controls seriously,” the active jumper is quoted as saying.
The athlete jumped at the last ski flying weekend at the Kulm with a suit that was too big and didn’t comply with the rules. However, he passed the step check before the start without any problems and was able to leave the stadium after his jump without further checks. “Practically everyone cheats, so I have to follow suit, otherwise I don’t have a chance,” said the jumper.
“It’s always a difficult subject. Such a suit is adapted to your own body. The body varies, the material varies,” Karl Geiger commented on the subject. “I think our inspector has a line that he’s following, a common thread. He has a limit and I wouldn’t say it’s in any way kinky,” said the 29-year-old.
“You should concentrate on the sport,” says Wellinger
The Austrian Christian Kathol has been the material controller in the World Cup since last summer. He took over from Mika Jukkara in May. The Finn was not without controversy as a controller and caused criticism at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing with the disqualification of several jumpers in the mixed team competition. Germany’s Katharina Althaus was also one of the disqualified last February.
“In my opinion, the controls are 100 times better than last year. You should focus on the sport,” said Wellinger. Team colleague Markus Eisenbichler also sees no reason to criticize the new controller. “He controls very well. I know very well: If it’s too big, he’ll measure it and you’re out. We are moving in a good frame. He doesn’t always immediately disqualify. He’s totally fair,” said the Bavarian. “This is about the sport. If the suit is an inch taller, don’t jump any further. The Swiss colleague who did it should concentrate on the essentials.”
