At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, five women competing for ski jumping were disqualified for not following dress code guidelines. These women include Sara Takanashi of Japan, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, Katharina Althaus of Germany and Anna Odine Stroem and Silje Opseth of Norway.

In November, the Federation of International Skiing made a change to the guidelines for the measurements of the skier’s uniform, requiring a “tight fitting” around the jumper’s body. The five women were accused of wearing “baggy outfits,” which led to their disqualification. Like a flying squirrel, the extra fabric between competitors’ legs and arms allows the athlete to stay airborne longer. 

“The used suits that led to the disqualifications were too big and offered an aerodynamic advantage to the athlete,” said the FIS.

The women had made it known that they had already worn the suit at a previous event on February 5th, yet they were not DQ’d. 

“Her suit was supposedly too big around the thighs, even though she wore it in the women’s normal hill event on Saturday,” said Sara Takanashi’s coach. 

In addition to Takanashi’s coach’s irritated reaction, the women who were disqualified also had many strong things to say to the media. 

“The [International Ski Federation] destroyed everything with this operation,” said Katharina Althaus, one of the disqualified athletes, “I think they have destroyed women’s ski jumping. I have been checked so many times in 11 years of ski jumping, and I have never been disqualified once.”

The competitors and coaches were disappointed by the outcome of the competition and slammed the officials for their decision. 

“For me, it is a puppet theater. The entire season the suits have been an issue. I am unbelievably angry and I don’t understand it,” said German team coach Stefan Horngacher.

Since the disqualified countries were four of the strongest ski jumping teams, the Slovenia, Russian and Canadian teams ended up taking the podium with Slovenia taking gold, Russia gaining silver and Canada winning bronze. Russia and Canada  had never reached the podium in any mixed-team events, but the disqualification gave them a perfect opportunity to take the medal. 

“We tried not to think about the disqualifications, but I think we still would have won so, yeah, it still feels great,” said Peter Prevc from Slovenia, who won gold in the ski competition. “There was a lot going on, but I was just trying to just be in the zone of jumping.” 

While the disqualified teams were still able to compete, they did so without a full team. Norway, Austria and Japan finished 8th, 5th and 4th, respectively, while Germany did not advance. 

“This is a parody, but I am not laughing,” said Germany’s head of Nordic events, Horst Hüttel. “It is outrageous that this happens with the four biggest ski-jump nations.”

After getting DQ’d for their outfit and accusing the FIS of ruining their sport, the teams involved were in tears during media interviews. 

“The sport of ski jumping has experienced one of its darker days,” Clas Bede Braathen,  the Norwegian national team coach told reporters. “I’m lost for words, really. I’m in pain on behalf of our sport.”