Janne Ahonen reacts to the current situation in ski jumping: It couldn't be clearer

Investigation into Norwegian Ski Jumpers

The ski jumping community is currently embroiled in controversy. At the recent World Championships, it was revealed that Norwegian jumpers had manipulated their suits in ways deemed illegal, including adding unnecessary stiffening materials to enhance jump performance. Initially, Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang faced disqualification for these violations.

Reactions from Within the Sport

Joining the disqualified athletes were Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, Robin Pedersen, and Robert Johansson, amid a growing backlash. Their head coach, Magnus Brevig, and equipment assistant Adrian Livelten have also been removed from duties. Following this, many sponsors withdrew their support from the Norwegian team, which was evident during recent events where athletes competed without sponsor logos.

Ahonen's Insight

“Who are they trying to fool?” Ahonen laughed when asked for his thoughts on the Norwegian team's explanations. As a former athlete who used to tailor his own suits for skiing, he firmly believes that skiers are well aware of their equipment’s condition. Pekka Holopainen, an expert in the field, shared Ahonen's stance, highlighting the importance of equipment checks for the athletes' safety.

Janne Ahonen's remarks underscore the challenges facing ski jumping today and how such issues could affect the sport's reputation moving forward.