Shortly before the start of the Nordic Ski World Cup in Trondheim, a debate about pathological lean madness broke out in ski jumping. However, the German hopes of hope Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger see no need for action at all.
“I think it’s a bit of a ridiculous discussion,” said Andreas Wellinger as part of a media round to the allegations that the ski jumpers would push their body weight down in an unhealthy manner. From the perspective of the 29-year-old, it is “no topic that is now relevant.”
Olympic champion Maren Lundby had previously found clear words on the situation of sport in a comment for the online edition of “NRK”. “It may sound drastically, but currently ski jumping is actually so sick that half of the field should be disqualified,” wrote the former world-class jumper.
The background is the BMI rule that the World Association FIS had introduced to the protection of athletes in 2024. This should ensure that a pathologically low body weight does not represent a competitive advantage. If you are below a BMI value of 21, you have to use shorter skis so that the weight advantage fizzles out.
Soon disqualifications in ski jumping?
According to Lundby, however, there are loopholes that are also due to the measurement technology. It also campaigned for the jumpers not to punish the ski length with too low weight, but to be completely excluded.
From Karl Geiger’s point of view, the alleged gaps in the regulations do not exist at all. “Weight is the simplest of what you can control – because a scale everyone can buy in the hardware store for 16 euros. This is not rocket science,” he said.
It is also quite possible to “win with the maximum of BMI. Several athletes have already proven.” In any case, a low BMI value does not automatically mean a danger. “It is definitely possible to have this BMI in a healthy way and to be efficient,” said Geiger about lightweights in sports.
Lundby ended her active career in 2023 due to weight problems and the consequences of radical diet methods.