‘Extremely stupid’ ski jumper disqualified from Olympics over boots

Austrian skis jumper Daniel Tschofenig dubbed himself “extremely stupid” aft being disqualified from nan ongoing Winter Olympics owed to oversized boots.

Competing successful nan men’s ample elevation individual event, Tschofenig had cruised done qualification and into nan last – wherever he was fancied to prime up his first Olympic medal.

However, a kit correction costs him dearly arsenic he was recovered to beryllium wearing boots 4 millimetres larger than nan limit permitted successful skis jumping, causing a disqualification.

The Austrian was understandably disappointment astatine his ain carelessness but had nary complaints astir nan ruling.

“I utilized caller shoes successful training which, by nan way, I wasn’t very happy with, but I kept them,” Tschofenig said.

“Unfortunately, I was naive and didn’t measurement it. Extremely stupid of me, location was conscionable truthful overmuch accent going on. But rules are rules.”

The 23-year-old was among nan badge favourites aft a stellar 2024-25 World Cup run wherever he won 8 events to declare nan wide World Cup title and besides triumphed successful nan prestigious Four Hills Tournament.

He besides won nan first World Cup arena of nan caller play and was hopeful of becoming an Olympic medallist successful his first games.

Tschofenig scored 137.7 successful nan first information of qualification to book a spot successful nan ample elevation last but his boots caused an contiguous disqualification and Slovakia’s Hektor Kapustik took his spot instead.

The last yet saw Slovenia’s Domen Prevc triumph golden pinch Ren Nikaido of Japan taking metallic and Poland’s Kacper Tomasiak picking up bronze.

Tschofenig’s disqualification is nan latest bizarre communicative successful skis jumping astatine nan Milano-Cortina Olympics aft reports emerged early successful nan Games claiming antheral skis jumpers were injecting their penises pinch hyaluronic acid earlier being measured for their suits to amended sporting performance.

And, connected Sunday, American skis jumper Annika Belshaw was disqualified from nan women’s ample elevation individual arena because her skis were much than 1 centimetre excessively long. Like Tschofenig, nan 23-year-old had qualified for nan last but was kicked out.