Austrian ski jumper Daniel Tschofenig has admitted he felt “extremely stupid” after officials disqualified him from the men’s large hill individual event because of oversized boots.
The 23 year old had safely qualified for the final and looked set to compete for a medal. However, equipment checks revealed that his boots exceeded the permitted size by four millimetres. Under international ski jumping rules, even a small measurement error leads to automatic disqualification.
Costly Equipment Mistake Ends Medal Hopes
Tschofenig, the 2025 World Cup champion, delivered a strong first round jump and scored 137.7 points. His performance placed him comfortably within qualification range.
Soon after, judges inspected his gear and discovered the violation. Officials immediately removed him from the competition. As a result, Slovakia’s Hektor Kapustik advanced to the final round.
Speaking after the incident, Tschofenig accepted full responsibility. He explained that he had trained in new boots that he did not particularly like. Despite his doubts, he decided to continue using them. He admitted that he failed to measure them properly due to pressure and stress around the event.
He said the mistake was naive and emphasized that rules must apply equally to everyone.
Prevc Wins Gold as Podium Shifts
With Tschofenig out of the competition, the final standings changed. Slovenia’s Domen Prevc claimed the gold medal after a strong performance. Japan’s Ren Nikaido secured silver, while Poland’s Kacper Tomasiak earned bronze.
The disqualification reshaped the medal race and opened the door for other competitors to step up.
Growing Scrutiny Over Ski Jumping Equipment Rules
The incident comes at a time when equipment regulations in ski jumping have drawn increased attention. Recent reports suggested that some male athletes injected hyaluronic acid before suit measurements in an attempt to influence results. Those claims raised fresh concerns about compliance and fairness in the sport.
Strict equipment checks remain a core part of ski jumping competitions. Officials measure boots, skis, and suits carefully to ensure that no athlete gains an unfair advantage.
Another Disqualification in Women’s Event
The equipment controversy did not end there. On Sunday, American ski jumper Annika Belshaw also faced disqualification in the women’s large hill individual event.
Judges found that her skis exceeded the maximum allowed length by more than one centimetre. Like Tschofenig, the 23 year old had qualified for the final. However, officials barred her from competing after the equipment check.
