Allegations of Cheating? German Star Questions Dominator!

Allegations of Cheating? Stars Question Riiber

Few athletes have been as dominant in their sport as Jarl Magnus Riiber. The Norwegian combined skier is nearly unbeatable in normal form, leading to suspicions from some of his toughest competitors. Two of his rivals suspect he may have an unfair advantage.

The life of a Nordic Combined athlete is anything but easy. The prevailing thought over the last few years has been, "No matter how good you are, Jarl Magnus Riiber is better."

The 27-year-old Norwegian jumps like a specialist and usually manages to maintain his lead with apparent ease during the cross-country skiing segments. With 61 World Cup victories, four individual World Championship gold medals, and five overall World Cup titles, his record speaks for itself.

Among his most notable competitors in recent years are Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger and the Austrian world champion Johannes Lamparter. In a recent episode of his podcast "Ski Happens," Geiger and Lamparter discussed the upcoming season, specifically scrutinizing Riiber’s apparent dominance with surprising candidness.

Geiger Surprised by Riiber's Jumps: "Really Illogical"

Both competitors view Riiber's material innovations with a critical eye. "When you look at what he has done on the jump over the past two years, it’s hard to say how legal it actually is. It’s definitely pushing the limits," Geiger explained, adding, "His jumps were simply better than 95 percent of the ski jumping field and that leads to a sphere that is logically inexplicable for an athlete in our sport."

Riiber is known not only for his skill on the hill and track but also for meticulously honing his equipment. "He builds his suits himself, perfectionizing them to the last detail," Lamparter pointed out. Like Geiger, he observes these practices with unease. "He goes very hard to the limit or even beyond. His suits are certainly not the tightest," he said, elaborating on doubts about the legality of his equipment. The argument hinges on the suit's length: a longer suit increases surface area and width when jumping.

Lamparter's Bold Claim: "Wouldn't Pass in Ski Jumping"

Geiger agrees with the 23-year-old Lamparter's assessment. "What he allows himself is at the highest limit," he said. "He has maximized his setup to the smallest detail and is sometimes definitely over the line. You wonder how he can get through a control."

Lamparter dramatically theorized, "With the same suit, he wouldn’t pass in ski jumping." He noted that checks in ski jumping are "stricter" and that the top ten in Nordic combined have an advantage as they have more time for inspections at the beginning. "This shouldn’t be the case," he criticized.

Both Geiger and Lamparter seem not to be alone in their mistrust. The entire field appears to view the superstar of the scene with suspicion. Lamparter remarked, "We compare our suits with those of other nations and the other Norwegians, and no one stands out like Riiber. Every nation thinks about this."

Lamparter Praises Riiber: King in Our Sport

Despite these allegations, Riiber will remain the athlete to beat in the upcoming season, even as questions rise regarding his health after he contracted a stomach virus in his pre-season and experienced severe side effects.

This troubling news is not something Geiger and Lamparter wish for, yet it could open doors for them. "If you get the chance, you have to take it and risk everything," Geiger noted, drawing from his experience during the 2022 Olympics, where he won gold while Riiber had to withdraw due to a COVID-19 infection.

Ultimately, both Geiger and Lamparter emphasized that they have a high regard for Riiber as a person and athlete, expressing admiration for his skills and personality. "He is an incredibly likable guy, I really like him, and you can talk to him about everything. I have the utmost respect for what he accomplishes. He is the king in our sport," Lamparter stated. However, he also recognized that Riiber is indeed "a sly player on the jump and track."