Terrified After Scary Jump: 'They're Playing With People's Health' – NRK Sport – Sports News, Results and Schedule

The Norwegian jumpers were furious after the qualification round in Ruka, Finland. Competition director proposes they take up ping-pong instead.

After failing to qualify for the first round in the Ruka World Cup, Robert Johansson expressed his anger to NRK, stating the organization was neglecting the athletes' safety. He emphasized the unnecessary risk involved in executing jumps under such uncertain conditions, where his fellow competitors also acknowledged the fear induced by the wind and instability on the ramp.

Johansson stated, "Playing with our health is unacceptable. I’d rather not risk injuring myself for a competition. We should focus on ensuring safety instead of pushing for the spectacle of jumping in unfavorable conditions."

Renndirektør Sandro Pertile, however, remained unapologetic, asserting, "If athletes cannot accept variable outdoor conditions, they might consider switching to sports like ping-pong. The professionals here maintained a high level of performance despite the difficulties. The reality is, we engage in an outdoor sport where adapting to changing conditions is part of the game."

Several other athletes, including Halvor Egner Granerud, complained about feeling unsafe, citing strong side winds and unstable landing conditions as contributors to their anxiety during the jumps. Granerud, who had a particularly poor outing, insisted that the organizers should have halted the competition due to the hazardous conditions. He believed the risks far outweighed the benefits of proceeding with the event, insisting it was unacceptable for elite athletes to face such gambling with their health during competition.