Newsroom
Is nothing sacred anymore? You’d think ski jumping would be immune to cheating—after all, how can you manipulate something as straightforward as launching off a ramp? But, lo and behold, Norway’s national team has found a way, and the scandal is shaking the sport to its core.
At the heart of the controversy is an elaborate scheme to manipulate ski suits, giving Norwegian jumpers an unfair aerodynamic advantage. The deception, revealed through secret footage and confirmed by international officials, has led to the suspension of two Olympic gold medalists, Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang, as well as three team officials.
The scam involved subtle alterations to pre-approved, microchipped suits—adjustments designed to increase their size and improve airflow, allowing athletes to glide farther. The scheme was only discovered after officials physically tore apart seams in the suits to expose hidden modifications.
For a country that prides itself on fair play and ethics, the scandal is a massive embarrassment. Norway, often at the forefront of calling out corruption in international sports, now finds itself in the hot seat. The same federation that pushed for Russia’s exclusion from global competitions is now under intense scrutiny, with its top athletes and staff facing allegations of deception.
The fallout has been swift. Norway’s head coach Magnus Brevig and equipment manager Adrian Livelten have admitted to the wrongdoing and stepped down, calling their actions a moment of poor judgment. “We regret it like dogs,” Brevig said, adding that they got “carried away in their bubble.”
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has seized all Norwegian ski suits from the recent world championships, and a full investigation is underway.
*With information from AP News
