The mixed team competition will go down in the infamous history of ski jumping as the one whose results have been influenced by as much as. Japanese Sara Takanashi, Austrian Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, Norwegian Anne Odine Stroem and Silje Opseth, as well as German Katharina Althaus were excluded for the oversize suit.
Jukkara explains: I have no connection with disqualification in women
and a wave of criticism from the media and staffs touched the women’s equipment controller, Agnieszka Baczkowska. and the Norwegians also suspected that the men’s controller, Mika Jukkara, might have been involved in everything.
– I have no connection with disqualification in women. I’ve never worked at a Women’s World Cup. There were two separate cabins and I have no access to the one controlled by Agnieszka Baczkowska. I shouldn’t be there, tells us the Finn.
The controller will talk to Horngacher. “I want to know what exactly he meant”
The course of the competition just after the competition was commented by the coach of the German team of jumpers: – Of course, it’s a very bitter pill. It must only be said that at the Games the controllers start to control and measure differently and more. It’s slowly becoming the Punch and Judy show for me [angielski teatr kukie³ek, w którym przedstawienie zazwyczaj koñczy siê ok³adaniem kijem]. Already in men’s jumping there are many problems and every day new rules arise. This is not in the spirit of sports. I will think about it for a long time -. – I will have to consider whether I would like to take part in this theater – he added in front of the Eurosport cameras.
We ask Jukkara to react to these words. – I have to talk to Stefan Horngacher. I am surprised that he suddenly became interested in what is happening in women. I want to know what exactly he meant. Many people experience emotions during the Olympics, but I did not expect such a statement from him – says the controller. Horngacher was therefore “called to the carpet” by Jukkara, and the whole matter will have to be clarified by the Germans. We contacted the coach of German jumpers, Maximillian Mechler. However, he referred us to the press spokesman of the German union, who has not yet given us any comment on this matter.
“It would have ended in a huge disaster for the entire discipline”
Many fans are worried that in a competition on a large hill for men, a similar situation may arise as in a competition of mixes. According to Jukkara, however, there is nothing to fear for now. – With men everything seems to be under control. Pressure from others? Of course it is, but I’ve learned to work with it. He always shows up at such events. I do the usual checks, change nothing. I also don’t see any problems with the obviously illegal equipment yet. I am sure that on the large hill there will not be such a problem as in the mixed competition – argues the Finnish controller.
– Would you be able to disqualify men from so many favorites as Agnieszka Baczkowska? – we ask. – It’s a good and trick question. First of all: I don’t expect this. I don’t believe they will take such a risk as it would end up as a disaster for the entire discipline. If I see that the equipment is clearly illegal, I have to ask myself, “Why would I not disqualify someone?” It is a question of honesty in our work and we must stick to it. This is how I intend to work until the end of the Olympics and in – assures Jukkara.
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.
