Ski jumping's suit trouble is back ahead of Olympics as numerous athletes disqualified
Ski jumping faces more controversy with six months to go until the Winter Olympics after the first high-level competition of the new season saw numerous athletes disqualified over ill-fitting suits. The governing body says it's 'perfectly normal.'
The ski jumping world was rocked in March by the discovery of illegally altered suits on the Norwegian team at the world championships. The International Ski Federation investigated officials and athletes over those changes which could help the wearer soar through the air for longer with the suit's larger surface area.
In Saturday's first event of the 2025-26 season — a summer Grand Prix event on an artificial surface in France — six male ski jumpers were disqualified because of suit issues such as waist size and three more were 'not permitted to start.' Another jumper from Japan was blocked from competing as the Grand Prix continued Sunday.
The federation told The Associated Press in an e-mailed statement that it's treating the spate of disqualifications as the natural result of tightening up the rules after the Norwegian suit scandal.
FIS race director Sandro Pertile said he doesn't think anyone was trying to cheat and that fewer disqualifications will occur as teams get used to the rules. Making specialized ski jumping equipment is 'a fairly complicated matter,' he said.
'It's perfectly normal for teams to need some time to adapt to the new situation after such comprehensive changes to the equipment regulations. Some cope with it straight away, others find it difficult at first,' Pertile told the AP.
'It's also important to highlight that these disqualifications are clearly a result of technical inadequacies — there's no sign whatsoever of ill intent from the teams.'
FIS indicated that a further nine men and five women didn't compete following a 'technical approval' process, though it wasn't clear if all of those cases involved their suits. Five of those 14 were on the United States team, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Among those disqualified Saturday was Norway's Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, who had previously been provisionally suspended earlier this year following the world championships.
FIS signaled it will remain rigorous in its checks through the Olympic season but expects to find athletes wearing increasingly snug — and therefore legal — suits.
'The teams know that they have our full support, and we expect the number of disqualifications to decrease significantly in the coming weeks,' Pertile said.
'With that said, we will remain strict and precise with equipment check the whole season long; there is no room for exceptions.'
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Marcus Rashford risks Man Utd wrath by telling team to copy Liverpool
Marcus Rashford called out Manchester United for failing to stick with a manager since Sir Alex Ferguson, like Liverpool did with Jurgen Klopp. Rashford has completed a loan move to Barcelona for the upcoming season. The England international has now sealed two temporary exits from Old Trafford in succession, having enjoyed a spell at Aston Villa during the latter half of last campaign. Barcelona became a potential destination for him last year when he disclosed in late 2024 his appetite for a new challenge away from his boyhood club. The Spanish club has remained his preferred destination ever since, and Rashford has become the first Englishman to wear the Blaugrana jersey since Gary Lineker arrived in 1986. READ MORE: Liverpool's 'next 3 transfers' as Alexander Isak promise bombshell emerges READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Alexander Isak latest, Marc Guehi talks, Giovanni Leoni move Rashford sat down for an interview with Lineker on his 'The Rest is Football' podcast. He took shots at United, suggesting the club should have followed in the footsteps of Liverpool in the wake of Ferguson's retirement. The 27-year-old believes United has yet to commit to a manager since Ferguson departed in 2013, while Liverpool — who have since moved on with Arne Slot — remained dedicated to Klopp despite a rocky start. This is reflected in the position each club finds itself in now. 'People say we've been in a transition for years, but in order to be in a transition, you have to actually start it,' Rashford said. 'The transition hasn't started. 'When Liverpool got Klopp, they stuck with him. They didn't win in the beginning. But nobody remembers that. But you have to make a plan and stick with it. 'We've had so many managers, that you just end up nowhere, in no-man's land. 100% [it hurts], not just as a player, but as a United fan.' Rashford also lamented the fact that United used to have a proud tradition of producing young players ready for first-team action, but this is no longer the case. He added: 'Under Fergie, the system was the same for the whole academy, so you could pick players from 15 onwards. 'Whereas if you're changing all the time, it's different. It's reactionary. You can't expect to be able to win. 'You might win a cup tournament, because you have a good coach, good players, and a good team. It's not an accident. 'But when I take a step back and think about it, with regard to where people want United to be, what do you expect?' Rashford could make his Barcelona debut when La Liga gets underway this weekend. Barcelona takes on RCD Mallorca at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Saturday night, and the club is trying to register its new signings in time to start its title defense.
Chicago Tribune
26 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Clarendon Hills falls 16-1 in opening game of Little League World Series tournament
Clarendon Hills never really got going Wednesday and lost 16-1 to the Mountain Region champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, in the opening round of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The game didn't get completely out of hand until the top of the sixth inning when the Nevada state champion scored 11 runs while sending 16 batters to the plate. After giving up a run in the top of the first, Clarendon Hills, the Great Lakes Region champion, had its best scoring chance of the game in the bottom half of the opening frame when it loaded the bases with one out on a hit batter, a walk and an error. But Nevada pitcher Garrett Gallegos struck out consecutive Clarendon Hills hitters to get out the inning without any damage. Nevada added four runs on five hits in the second inning as Clarendon Hills starting pitcher Luke Schaller gave way to Brody Herold along the way. Neither team scored again until the top of the sixth. Clarendon Hills avoided the shutout in the bottom of that final inning when Herold singled and eventually scored on an obstruction call on the Nevada third baseman. Clarendon Hills isn't scheduled to play again until 6 p.m. Saturday in the elimination bracket. The Clarendon Hills vs Nevada game was the first United States contest in the 2025 Little League World Series, which runs through Aug. 24 and includes 10 teams from different regions of the United States along with 10 from other countries. Along with Clarendon Hills and Nevada, U.S. teams regional tournament winners include teams from Fairfield, Connecticut (Metro); Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic); Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Midwest); Braintree, Massachusetts (New England); Bonney Lake, Washington (Northwest); Irmo, South Carolina (Southeast); Richmond, Texas (Southwest); and Honolulu, Hawaii (West). International teams are from Taipei, Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific); Brisbane, Queensland (Australia); Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada); Santa Cruz, Aruba (Caribbean); Brno, Czechia (Europe-Africa); Tokyo (Japan); Barquisimeto, Venezuela (Latin America); Chihuahua (Mexico); Arraijan (Panama); and Yabucoa (Puerto Rico). The U.S. championship game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Aug. 23, following the International championship at 11:30 a.m. The World Series championship contest, pitting the U.S. and International champions, is at 2 p.m. Aug, 24. All three championship games will be broadcast on ABC. Earlier-round games are being shown on ESPN. A year ago, Clarendon Hills' neighboring village Hinsdale made its first trip to the Little League World Series, but was eliminated with shutout losses in its first two games, to teams from the West and Metro regions. In the leadup to this year's World Series tournament, Clarendon Hills had a dominating, 6-0, record in winning the Illinois State championship while outscoring opponents 60-7. But the double-elimination format proved very important in claiming both the District and Great Lakes titles. A loss to Naperville Continental in the District round put Clarendon Hills on the brink of elimination, but the same teams met in the July 13 championship, and Clarendon Hills came out on top, 8-2. Herold said the confidence boost his team got from beating Naperville Continental after losing to the same team earlier in the tournament was a factor after Clarendon Hills lost 11-1 Aug. 4 to the state champion from Ohio. A 5-2 win over Kentucky a day later gave Clarendon Hills another shot at undefeated Ohio and this time it was Clarendon Hills that managed a 9-4 victory to win the Region championship and advance to the World Series. 'This team has a lot of confidence and they all believe in each other,' Herold said. 'Even after our losses, everyone believed we were going to come back and win.' The Mountain Region champion, Summerlin South Little League from Las Vegas, Nevada, won all three of its games in San Bernardino, California, defeating Colorado, 17-0, and then Utah, 22-12 and 6-3. Summerlin South is the fourth Nevada team to make the World Series.
Fox News
27 minutes ago
- Fox News
Michael Phelps criticizes USA Swimming's 'weak leadership,' volunteers as resource for change
Decorated United States swimmer Michael Phelps called out USA Swimming yet again, this time going into great detail about his belief the program is declining. Phelps posted a lengthy, five-page statement on Instagram, doubling down on his call for action within the organization. "I've watched too many teammates struggle to compete in a sport they love without the support they need," Phelps wrote. "I've also seen the sport struggle to return its membership numbers to pre-pandemic levels, and I'm done pretending this system works just because it produces medals. "Swimming, to me, was always about more than just medals – it's supposed to be an environment that builds champions in and out of the pool. As a Dad to four young boys, it pains me to say that I'm not sure if I'd want my sons to be a part of this sport at a competitive level. Yes, swimming changed my life, but it also caused a lot of heartache, and its current state makes me both sad and angry." Phelps began his post by clarifying that he wasn't calling out the actual swimmers in the organization with his initial critique, but rather leadership outside the pool. He pointed out the team's decline in performance, saying Team USA won just 44% of medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the lowest mark for the United States since 1988. And while Phelps referenced money as being a factor in USA Swimming's decline, he accused the organization of "poor operational controls and weak leadership." Phelps didn't point the finger without offering himself and certain recommendations as solutions. First, he vowed he would be a resource for USA Swimming. "My door is open and there is work to be done," he wrote. He also recommended that USA Swimming hold an independent review of the entire organization. He believes an athletes-first mentality needs to be adopted to support swimmers competing at the highest level. At the same time, offering support to those young swimmers to reach that level is imperative in his eyes. Phelps' initial post was about former Team USA swimmer Ryan Lochte, a teammate of his during his Olympic gold-medal days. Lochte had sent an image where a funeral was being held for USA Swimming, with Phelps asking if the 2025 World Championships would be a "wake-up call" for the organization. Team USA tallied nine gold medals at the World Championships, which led all countries involved in the pool. They had 29 total medals, which was also first among participating nations. Phelps is one of the best Olympians, let alone swimmers, of all time. He collected 23 gold medals over his illustrious career, which remains an Olympic record.
