Unequal treatment

Ski jumping debate: “I feel a bit screwed”

Eva Pinkelnig is disappointed with some of the jury's decisions.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

After the two Norwegian ski jumpers Silje Opseth and Eirin Marie Kvandal decided not to compete at the season finale in Planica in protest, Eva Pinkelnig has now also joined the debate about unequal treatment in ski jumping. She feels "a bit screwed". 

"It would have been possible, we are 17 girls. It would have been easy, and that's a bit of a shame," Pinkelnig told ORF. She feels "a bit screwed" by the decision. She was referring to the canceled ski flying competition in Vikersund on Saturday. While there was an alternative competition for the men on Sunday, the women had to watch.

Eva Pinkelnig

(Bild: GEPA)

A decision that caused outrage and for many female athletes is a further indication that they are still at a disadvantage compared to their male colleagues. The World Cup ski flying in Norway was actually supposed to send out the message that women's ski jumping has finally arrived on the big stage.

"What happened here is ridiculous from my point of view," former ÖSV eagle Andreas Goldberger also jumped to her defense. Pinkelnig noted that there had already been strange jury decisions throughout the winter. 

"They didn't deserve that"
Meanwhile, FIS Race Director Chika Yoshida defended the decision: "We discussed several options, but the national ski association and the organizing committee must be able to finance this competition and the prize money for the participants." In the end, she did not give a clear answer to the question of existing unequal treatment in the sport of ski jumping. 

Goldberger did not accept this argument and emphasized: "The women would even voluntarily forgo prize money in order to have an additional competition. They don't deserve these losses." In addition, the season finale in Planica adds fuel to the fire. The women only have one appearance, immediately after the men's qualification. Ski flying world record holder Silje Opseth and her compatriot Eirin Marie Kvandal will not be competing in protest.