Norwegian ski jumping stars Lindvik and others have been suspended following serious allegations. Norway’s ski jumping scandal deepens: New FIS suspensions, secret footage, and reputational fallout.Credit: Shutterstock, Marcin Kadziolka
Norway’s ski jumping cheating scandal has taken a dramatic turn as further details emerge about the deliberate manipulation of jumpsuits at the World Championships.
Following our earlier report, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has now provisionally suspended three Norwegian team officials and two athletes – Olympic champions Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang – as part of an ongoing investigation.
How did they cheat?
FIS race director Sandro Pertile has now revealed that team officials secretly altered pre-approved suits to improve aerodynamics. Extra material was inserted – particularly in the crotch area – to increase surface area and allow athletes to glide further through the air…
A whistleblower leaked secretly filmed footage, which prompted FIS inspectors to rip open the seams of the Norwegian suits, exposing the illegal modifications.
“It was an extremely high-level manipulation,” Pertile told Associated Press (AP). “Absolutely by far the worst I’ve seen in my five years in this role.”
He added that even a 5% increase in surface area could significantly boost jump distance – giving Norwegian athletes an unfair advantage.
Wider fallout for Norway
Norway, long seen as a bastion of fair play, now finds itself in an uncomfortable position. The same federation that led the push to ban Russian athletes after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine now faces its own integrity crisis.
FIS secretary general Michel Vion has vowed to leave “no doubt” that the sport remains clean, with officials seizing all Norwegian jumpsuits for further examination.
Meanwhile, Norway’s head coach Magnus Brevig and equipment manager Adrian Livelten admitted wrongdoing but insisted it was a one-off offence. “We regret it like dogs, and I’m terribly sorry that this happened,” Brevig confessed at a press conference.
What happens next?
With the ski jumping World Cup season still ongoing, Norway’s top two athletes remain banned from competing in Oslo this weekend.
FIS has not ruled out re-examining all six Norwegian medals from the World Championships and could potentially strip the country of past honours – including Lindvik’s 2022 Olympic gold medal.
For now, ski jumping’s latest scandal has left fans wondering: was this a one-off slip, or a sign of deeper rot in the sport?
Tune into the Euro Weekly for the latest news from around Norway.
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