Japanese ski jumper Sara Takanashi has apologized for violating equipment rules, which has shattered her country’s hopes of winning a medal at the mixed doubles Olympic tournament.
Sara Takanashi made a remarkable jump of 103 m, but her achievement was annulled, as it turned out that her suit was 2 cm wider than allowed around the thighs.
Ski jumping competitions are held according to complex and contradictory rules, according to which the size of the suit and the length of the skis must be combined with the body weight in an attempt to eliminate all the advantages that could appear for lighter competitors and any small changes in weight can have a significant impact.
“It is an indisputable fact that my disqualification changed the lives of everyone on our team. I deeply regret that I made such a huge mistake and deprived Japan of medals”, wrote Sara Takanashi on social media. “Even if I apologize, I won’t be able to take the medal or take real responsibility, but I have to think further about my races in the future”, added she
But she was not the only one to break the rules, as teams from Germany, Norway, and Austria also faced disqualifications. Each team consists of two men and two women. In all four teams, a total of five athletes were disqualified. All five are women, two from Norway.
The teams of Slovenia, the Russian Olympic Committee and, surprisingly, Canada took advantage of all this confusion to take the medals.
