– I honestly feel that FIS in itself underestimates us a little across the board. In an interview with Viaplay after the show jumping, Silje Opseth harshly criticized the jury. Throughout both rounds, they chose to keep a low speed, which led to short jumps. Opseth and Japanese Sara Takanashi, who were responsible for the two longest jumps in Willingen. Both at 130.5 metres. One and a half meters longer than the K-point and far behind what was at the time the ground record of 153 metres. A little while later, Johann Forfang erased it when he jumped 155.5 meters. – We are good enough ski jumpers to jump far and good enough jumpers to jump much more on big slopes. It is actually much more sound in terms of safety. I don’t understand why they deliberately make the sport indefensible, that’s really what they do, they just don’t get it, Opseth continued. IN THE AIR: Silje Opseth in action. Photo: Darko Bandic / AP – Pathetic Opseth is supported by former ski jumper and current Viaplay expert Andreas Stjernen. He feels sorry for the female jumpers. – It was a terribly boring show jumping race. A parody. There was very little entertainment for those watching and those on the ground. It was very, very disappointing, says Stjernen. He agrees that the speed was set too low, but understands that the jury missed the speed in the 1st half. The fact that they didn’t adjust it for the 2nd half makes him react. CRITICAL: Andreas Stjernen was very disappointed with the women’s showjumping. Photo: Ole Martin Wold / NTB – That it will be just as bad when they have arranged the track and have the experience from the first half, it is pathetic that they are not able to make it better in the second half, says Stjernen. Not long after the women’s race, the men set off in Willingen. Johann Forfang clinched it with victory and a new hill record: 155 metres. – And that under exactly the same conditions. Then they manage to create an entertaining ski jump. Then there are no excuses, says Stjernen. In comparison, the longest jump during the women’s race was 130.5 metres. FIS disagrees Chika Yoshida, the women’s race director, tells news that the conditions meant that they could not increase their speed. Yoshida says she understands that Opseth believes that longer jumps would be safer. – If the conditions allow it, the jury will make arrangements for it. However, she does not recognize Opseth’s claim that the FIS underestimates the female jumpers. – I have to say that it is not true. We work hard for women, and have never underestimated them. Today, the conditions were not easy, she says. DISAGREE: Chika Yoshida, race director for women’s jumping, defends the jury’s reasoning. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB – Neither we nor the jury have underestimated the women. We work hard for female ski jumpers and the jury tried their best, always, continues Yoshida. – Restrictive In an interview with news just over an hour after the race, Opseth still believes that the jury should have picked up the pace. It would have made the race less dangerous and more entertaining, Opseth believes. – I think they were restrictive. It’s less dangerous to jump that hill here with more speed. At the same time, it would have been more fun for us, the audience and the TV viewers with more speed and longer jumps. – There are heavier conditions overall today and then we should have gained more speed to create good entertainment, she continues. Yoshida in the FIS believes that the speed chosen was correct. – It was raining, the track was wet and there was a lot of wind. I think the jury did the right thing, so that we had a safe competition. It is always difficult in Willingen, says Yoshida. WON IN WILLINGEN: Austrian Jacqueline Seifriedsberger won Saturday’s race in Willingen. Photo: Swen Pförtner / AP – Complete scandal Viaplay’s commentators reacted to the jury’s decision on low speed several times during the broadcast. – It is not difficult to speed up here today, said Viaplay’s jumping expert Anders Jacobsen. – Complete scandal by the jury in Willingen today. Longest jump of 125 meters on a hill where you can easily jump over 150 metres, Viaplay’s jump commentator Petter Tenstad followed up with on X after the first round. Opseth fell in the first half and believes a bumpy escape was the reason for that. The 26-year-old lost his balance and had his bottom on the ground before the fall limit. In the end it was a sixth place at Opseth, she jumped up five places from the first round. The other Norwegian hope, Thea Bjørseth, was number 12.
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Silje Opseth with harsh criticism of the International Ski Federation – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
