Norwegian Ström explains herself after fraud allegations

“Sole fall” in ski jumping

Next suspected fraud: Norway issues statement

Suspicion of fraud had arisen against the Norwegian ski jumper Anna Odine Ström. Now the association is providing an explanation. There is still criticism.

Norwegian ski jumper Anna Odine Ström, who was disqualified on Wednesday because of an unauthorized additional sole in her shoe, said she modified her equipment because of medical necessity. As Norway’s head coach Christian Mayer told the TV station NRK at the World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Ström suffers from a misalignment of her hip, which is why she uses a sole to compensate for a height difference of one centimeter on her right leg.

“Anna Odine was injured in Engelberg in 2023, the injury was due to this hip problem. That’s why we started to compensate for that,” said Mayer. Ström was wearing an additional sole in his socks, which was noticed on Wednesday after a long inspection.

However, a certificate is required for such a measure, as World Association race director Sandro Pertile explained in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Without this, a modification like in Ströms Falls will lead to disqualification. Norway’s team only submitted such a certificate on Wednesday after the inspection, and the world association Fis is now checking it.

Former Norwegian top ski jumper Johan Remen Evensen, as an NRK expert, called the actions of Norway’s association and Ström “simply weak”. The incident was no trivial matter: “The higher you stand on the shoe, the lower you can wear the suit and the lower the crotch. A centimeter less step than usual is a big advantage,” said the former ski flying world record holder.

Ström was eleventh in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and was then removed from the rankings.