"By BRIAN MELLEY Ski jumping is no fashion contest, but there will be nearly as much scrutiny on what jumpers wear at the Winter Olympics as the form of their flight and the distance they travel. A scandal from last year's world championships in which the Norwegian team was caught doctoring their jumping suits to get a competitive edge has cast a shadow over the sport that will see new contests added this year at the Milan Cortina Games."
"Norway's Marius Lindvik, a gold medalist at the 2022 Beijing Games, was disqualified with a teammate at the world championships in March and suspended for three months after team leaders admitted tampering with their suits. Lindvik, who was stripped of his second-place finish, and Johann Forfang said they weren't aware of the alterations that stiffened the fabric to give them more lift to fly farther."
"Skiers are judged not just on distance, but also on their technique in flight and their landing style. There are two jumps: a large hill and a shorter normal hill. Women who began competing in 2014 on the normal hill will also compete this year in the bigger hill for the first time. There is a team event for men and a mixed team event combining forces of men and women."
Ski jumping will face intensified scrutiny on competitors' suits at the Winter Olympics after a suit-tampering scandal at last year's world championships. Norwegian jumpers were disqualified and suspended after team leaders admitted altering suits to stiffen fabric and increase lift, costing athletes placements. Ski jumping dates to 1800s Norway and entered the Olympics in 1924, evolving through changes to technique, skis, bindings and clothing. Competitors reach nearly 60 mph down steep ramps and are scored on distance, flight technique and landing. The Olympic program includes large and normal hills, men's team events, a women's large hill and a mixed team event.
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