One Japanese, one Austrian, one German and two Norwegian women – so many players she disqualified. Noting that the suits of Sara Takanashi, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, Katharina Althaus, Anna Odine Stroem and Silje Opseth are too large, the FIS equipment controller led to sensational decisions.
Due to the fact that the chances for medals lost four powers,. In an interview with Sport.pl, Baczkowska argues that it could not be otherwise, because the candidates for the fight greatly exaggerated.
£ ukasz Jachimiak: Good morning, Mrs. Agnieszka “¯yleto”.
Agnieszka Baczkowska: Ha, ha! Is this my nickname? I?
Stefan Horngacher says that you made a puppet theater and claims that he does not know if you want to continue participating in something like this. You’ve knocked them out! Why so harsh?
– Why not be harsh? There are rules that players must follow. My job is to enforce the rules. If the rules are not respected, then – unfortunately – it may end for the players just like in the Olympic mixed teams competition.
Did you warn them after the individual competition? On the Internet, you could find photos of really large costumes of some players.
– Not all competitors are controlled in the individual competition. It is impossible to check all 40 jumpers from the first series and 30 from the second series. That’s why some people got away with it then. And some assumed that, since they had already been inspected two days ago, maybe they will succeed this time. Unfortunately, it failed.
I understand that the regulations are important, but I imagine that it was not easy for you to be so strict in the Olympic competition. Has it cost you a lot of stress?
– Very. It was really hard.
There were protests?
– There were no official protests. But of course the teams were a bit confused.
Slightly?
– Of course I am speaking euphemistically. It was hot, but I had to do my job. Everyone knows that at any time each piece of equipment can be inspected.
Did you talk to Horngacher?
– No, he didn’t.
We were afraid that he would report a failure in Dawid Kubacki’s overalls. Dawid managed to avoid disqualification because no one noticed and reported that the elastic in his left leg had come off?
– It’s hard for me to say, because I learn about the whole situation from you! In my room, at that time, there was a real commotion, so I heard nothing about it. But a cracked elastic at the trouser leg will only disturb the player, not help. If the leg is no longer tight, the crotch of the suit goes up, not down. And for something like that there can be no disqualification.
Coming back to your room – was the hardest part of disqualifying Sarah Takanashi? Seeing how later she was flooded with tears and knowing that she apologized to her countrymen through the media, I guess that she could not stand it anymore.
– No disqualification is nice. Man has known these girls for many years. It’s really hard to tell players that they haven’t passed the equipment inspection. But this is also my job, although, humanly speaking, I feel sorry for the players. I’m sorry that all of this happened at the Olympics. But the teams try to be on the limit, use all possibilities, and if someone exceeds these limits, they must be disqualified.
You couldn’t forgive anyone? Were these heavy overruns?
– Yes, we are not talking about half a centimeter or even a centimeter of slack in the outfit more than the regulations allow. I really had no choice.
We understand, but if you met coach Horngacher, it might be better to get out of his way after all.
– Lucky we have a break now! Maybe everyone will cool down.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
