After he was caught heavily intoxicated at the Olympics, Finnish ski jumping coach Igor Medved had to leave the games immediately. New details about the case have now become known that do not shed a good light on the perpetrator.
Finland’s ski jumping coach Igor Medved is apparently significantly more at fault for the 2026 Olympic Games than previously assumed. Research by the Finnish newspaper “Iltalehti” has shown that the coach, who is currently still suspended, was not only drunk on an Olympic evening.
It is said that Medved was under the influence of alcohol on “several days” during the games. One evening after a competition he was even stopped by the local police because he was walking around unsteadily. Another member of the Finnish team is said to have been traveling with him at the time.
Immediately after his exclusion from the Olympic Games, the Finnish newspaper reported on an incident that occurred last winter during the World Cup jumping in Sapporo. Medved had looked so deeply into the glass that he missed the bus to the airport the next morning.
Ski jumping coach not yet fired
Medved explained his proven alcohol consumption at the 2026 Olympic Games with a party visit to the Slovenian ski jumpers, who, according to him, were celebrating their gold in the team competition. However, the Slovenian press spokesman subsequently denied that such a celebration had even taken place.
What will happen next for the Finnish national coach is still not clear. Association head Marleena Valtasola told “Iltalehti”: “We haven’t made a decision on the matter yet. We will look at the issue later and do it carefully. People also have to be respected here. We will say something if there is something to say.”
Valtasola could neither deny nor confirm that Medved was conspicuous for consuming alcohol not only on one but on several days of the Olympics. Instead, she simply said, “I will not speculate on any further matters on this topic.”
