‘This is a parody’: Germany left fuming after night of ski jumping mayhem

Slovenia won the mixed team ski jumping gold on Monday, but the big talking point of the event’s first appearance at the Winter Olympics was a series of disqualifications that hit the favourites and meant world champions Germany failed to make the final.

Ursa Bogataj and Nika Kriznar, who took gold and bronze in the women’s individual event, helped Slovenia to gold alongside Peter Prevc and Timi Zajc. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Russian Olympic Committee claimed the silver medal and Canada, rank outsiders, collected bronze. Yet the final placings seemed almost an afterthought after a night of mayhem that featured disqualifications, reinstatements and widespread fury and confusion among the sport’s heavyweight nations.

Germany, who have won four successive world championships, failed to progress from the 10-team opening round after individual silver medallist Katharina Althaus was disqualified for a suit violation. Japan, Austria and Norway – twice – also fell foul of the complex rules that link suits and skis to bodyweight in an attempt to remove any advantage that might be gained by athletes being lighter.

Officials of the impacted nations were quick to voice their frustration. “For me it is a puppet theatre. The entire season the suits have been an issue,” Germany’s national team coach Stefan Horngacher said. “I am unbelievably angry and I don’t understand it. We had super jumps, you can only be disappointed with this.”

He said Althaus had worn the same suit as in Saturday’s individual event – though if her weight has dropped since then her suit would need adjusting. “This is a parody, but I am not laughing,” Germany’s head of Nordic events Horst Huttel said. “It is outrageous that this happens with the four