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The jumpers jumpsuits were deemed to be too large.

This week saw the final round of the first Olympic mixed-team ski jumping event at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, while the decision to go for mixed teams was intended to promote gender unity and equality, the organizers of the event have inadvertently singled out the female competitors with a questionable ruling.

Five of the ski jump finalists, all women, were disqualified from the the event after their jumps, with the reason cited by officials being that their jumpsuits were noncompliant. Specifically, they were too big. While jumpsuit size is an important factor in ski jumping, as it could potentially affect the jumpers’ aerodynamics, all of these competitors had been wearing these suits for the entirety of the games so far without incident, throwing the ruling into question.

The disqualified competitors include Sara Takanashi of Japan, Daniela Iraschko-Stolz of Austria, Katharina Althaus of Germany, and Anna Odine Stroem and Silje Opseth of Norway. When they received the call, reactions ranged from surprise to frustration to sorrow, with members and staff on the German team especially upset.

5 Ski Jumpers Disqualified Because Their Jumpsuits Were Too Big https://t.co/RU7bNdQKVC

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“We just pulled the crap card. That is how you destroy nations, development and the entire sport,” said Althaus.

“This is a parody, but I am not laughing,” said German sports director Horst Huttel.

“For me, it is a puppet theater. The entire season the suits have been an issue. I am unbelievably angry and I don’t understand it,” said German team coach Stefan Horngacher.