The Austrian athlete was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics final because her shoes were 4 millimeters too big.

VHO - Daniel Tschofenig, Austria's top hope in the long jump skiing team, has been disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics finals after organizers discovered his competition shoes were 4 millimeters too large.

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Daniel Tschofenig's story became the focus of debate when the 23-year-old athlete was disqualified just before the final of the long jump skiing event.

Earlier, Tschofenig completed his first jump with 137.7 points, placing him 8th and qualifying him for a medal. However, after the competition, the organizers inspected his equipment and discovered that his ski boots were 4 millimeters too large. According to the rules of ski jumping, this is a serious violation, resulting in the cancellation of all results and disqualification from the competition.

Tschofenig couldn't hide his disappointment and admitted his mistake, "I used the new shoes during training. Although I wasn't really happy with them, I kept them for the match. I was too careless and didn't check the size carefully. It was a silly thing to do."

The Austrian athlete added that he didn't notice the difference of just a few millimeters. Normally, athletes even order shoes slightly smaller to ensure they fit correctly. However, this time, he believes the shoes are still the correct size 42 as registered.

However, these explanations did not change the organizers' decision. According to the rules of the ski jump, the Austrian athlete's results were disqualified. Hektor Kapustik (Slovakia) secured a replacement spot in the final.

Daniel Tschofenig, a World Cup winner from last year, is considered a strong contender for the gold medal at Milano Cortina.

According to the International Ski Federation's regulations, any discrepancies in clothing and equipment size can create an unfair advantage and will be dealt with severely.

A study published in the journal Frontiers indicates that lift increases and drag decreases. Increasing the suit's circumference by 2cm can reduce drag by 4% and increase lift by 5%, equivalent to improving distance by nearly 6 meters. Therefore, even a few millimeters of deviation can significantly impact performance.

For this reason, ahead of the 2026 Olympics, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has tightened its checks. Athletes must undergo a full-body 3D scan to accurately determine measurements, from sleeve length to crotch height, in order to prevent any possibility of cheating with their attire.

The incident involving Daniel Tschofenig is therefore not just a personal story, but also reflects the strict fairness of elite sports , where rules are paramount to ensure transparency and equality for all athletes.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/vdv-nguoi-ao-bi-loai-khoi-chung-ket-olympic-mua-dong-2026-vi-giay-rong-hon-4-milimet-205185.html