Zhangjiakou (dpa) – Daniela Maier first crouched disappointed in the snow, then leaned irritated and somewhat helplessly against a wall – and after a minute-long and nerve-wracking video proof, she didn’t even want her unexpected bronze medal.
“My nerves were on edge. I thought that was unfair,” said the German ski crosser after the biggest and probably most dramatic success of her career. Only when her team hugged her after the jury’s decision and celebrated with “You’re the best woman” chants did the 25-year-old gradually become happy.
First Olympic medal for a German ski crosser
Maier will probably never forget this emotional roller coaster ride. After all, she had already finished with the first Olympic medal for a German ski crosser. In fourth place, Maier crossed the finish line in the Olympic victory of Swede Sandra Näslund behind Canadian Marielle Thompson and Fanny Smith from Switzerland.
But on the video wall only gold for Näslund and silver for Thompson were initially confirmed in the wild snow flurry of Zhangjiakou. The rest was under review, with the jury using video evidence due to an unfair action by Smith. For minutes, Maier trembled at minus 20 degrees, looked spellbound at the scoreboard and bit his fingernails.
Then finally salvation. While Smith no longer understood the world, Maier didn’t even know how to react. “Fanny received a yellow card for her maneuver on the home straight. There is a relatively clear set of rules. If a driver can be assumed to have intention and another driver’s speed is significantly slowed down, then that’s a yellow card,” said sporting director Heli Herdt in the ARD. “It’s the medal. Tomorrow nobody will ask how it came about.”
Jury disqualified Swiss Fanny Smith
The German Peter Krogoll was responsible for the video evidence. However, the decision was made by a five-person jury. Maier’s medal is no longer contestable. She expressed herself reluctantly: “She took away my speed a bit. That’s why we have a racing jury. That’s pure ski cross.”
Race director Klaus Waldner defended the relegation of the Swiss. “In the case in question, the jury is of the opinion that Fanny Smith could have just driven,” said the Austrian on ARD. But Smith is taking a big step to the left. “As a result, Dani lost his balance and all of his momentum. This action affected the result as Dani would have passed without the contact.” It’s a tough decision, but it should be fair.
Maier, who was born in Furtwangen, traveled to China with outsider chances after her third place at the World Cup in Nakiska, Canada a few weeks ago, brought the German Ski Association (DSV) the first Olympic medal in this discipline. “World class. So, so cool. Just mega,” enthused Maier. Your personal reward? “Maybe a champagne tonight.”
The 25-year-old was already on the verge of being eliminated in the quarter- and semi-finals. From what was meanwhile last place, Maier fought his way forward again and again on the icy track. “It was a thriller, she just earned it,” praised Herdt. Maier’s teammate Johanna Holzmann from Memmingen had previously failed in the quarter-finals. For Maier, the first thing to do is: “Realize and then enjoy. Unbelievable, I just have bronze”. And tears flowed again. This time just for fun.