Scandal in Zakopane: Calls to Ban Official Jelko Gros Permanently

“Ban him from this sport forever!” - journalists expressed their outrage after the first series of the competition in Zakopane. This reaction was directed at Slovenian Jelko Gros, who lowered the starting bar following an impressive jump from his compatriot. Despite a strong performance early on, later competitors struggled to match the leader’s distance.

Anze Lanisek, leading after the first series with a jump of 145 meters, was mistakenly favored by the lowered bar, which many considered unfair. The controversy highlighted that even with his extraordinary performance, Gros’s decision could have affected the outcomes for other competitors.

"What Gros just did should get him excluded from the sport forever. It’s disgraceful, an absolute scandal in Zakopane,” said sports journalist Jakub Balcerski.

Another commentator referred to the series as "grossly distorted" due to Gros’s uncalled-for adjustment.