The mixed team ski jumping competition at the Winter Olympics was rattled by an unprecedented spate of disqualifications – and one furious athlete was reduced to tears.
As Slovenia surged to victory in the event’s Olympic debut, five jumpers were disqualified for wearing loose-fitting suits, which officials saw as giving athletes an advantage as they travelled through the air.
The disqualified jumpers were women from Germany, Japan, Norway and Austria.
LIVE UPDATES: Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, day four
READ MORE: Roosters ban centre Joey Manu from playing in All Stars match
READ MORE: US skiier Nina O’Brien goes down in brutal crash
German Katharina Althaus was disqualified during the first round, reducing her to a teary and angry mess.
“We were so happy to have a second event (for women) here at the Olympics,” said Althaus, quoted by German sports agency SID.
“The FIS (International Ski Federation) destroyed everything with this operation. I think they have destroyed women’s ski jumping. I don’t know what they’re trying to do.
“I have been checked so many times in 11 years of ski jumping, and I have never been disqualified once. I know my suit was compliant,” Althaus added.
Germany’s men’s coach, Stefan Horngacher, said “the disappointment is of course huge but the rules have to be accepted”.
“It is just strange that they have been using the same suits yesterday and there was no problem,” Horngacher added.
“It is annoying that this happens at the Winter Olympic Games. This should all be cleared before.”
Slovenia registered 1001.5 points, outdoing the second-placed Russian Olympics Committee’s 890.3 and third-placed Canada’s 844.6.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!