Trainer legend Mika Kojonkoski takes care of the future of the sport in view of the fraud affair in Norwegian ski jumping.
“I think this is a last chance for the entire system to find a simple and clear way for the enforcement of the rules,” the 61-year-old Finn told “NRK”.
“The development has been dramatic in recent decades. It was part of the coach’s task to try to develop the equipment. But now we have to take a few steps,” added Kojonkoski, who, in his glamorous career as a ski jump coach, also looked after the Norwegian national team in addition to the Austrian and Finnish.
The Scandinavians had made illegal changes to their suits at the home World Cup in Trondheim. Five jumpers, including the newly baked world champion Marius Lindvik, and several members of the staff were then disqualified.
There are “clear rules” at FIS, emphasized Kojonkoski. “There are many teams that go to the limits, but that was clearly too much.”
He did not want to speculate about misconduct at other nations. “We have a proven case that we have to punish clearly,” said Kojonkoski.
The coaching icon, which now acts as chairman of the FIS ski jumping committee and functional at the Finnish association, now pleads for the introduction of a universal suit that all jumpers have to use and which differs only in size.
“I don’t like that we only make small changes, I want to make clear changes. Maybe a standard suit is a good start,” said the trainer icon.
Ski jumping: confessions by Ahonen and Co. “ugly stories”
In his view, the rules must not become more complicated than before. “The rules become more precise from year to year, but the teams are constantly developing beyond the rules. If we set up more rules, I don’t think it helps ski jumping,” said Kojonkoski.
Kojonkoski was “surprised” by the cheating confessions of former ski jumpers like Janne Ahonen.
He said: “There are ugly stories that are not beneficial for ski jumping. We stick to the real and proven stories and we try to do our sport better than it is.”