Ski Jumping Scandal?

Ski jumping is one of many sports that I only see every four years when it’s featured in the Olympics.  Despite pretty much forgetting that it exists in the interim, unless I happen to play it on the Wii Fit, I’m always enthralled by it and it’s one of my favorite events.

I didn’t think there was really much room for scandal in ski jumping. You sit at the top, go really fast down the hill, jump, lean forward at a freakish angle while birds look UP at you and say, “Holy *&^),” then land gracefully. Repeat. But, alas, there is a ski jumping scandal afoot.

Apparently, Austria and Switzerland are BIG ski jumping rivals. And the Austrian team isn’t quite sure that Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann earned his gold medal last Saturday in an honest manner. They informed the International Ski Federation that they suspect Ammann is using improper bindings on his skis, which allow him to be flatter in the air and therefore go much farther. The bindings are also generally considered unsafe.

The Austrian team informed the ISF and the Associate Press that if Ammann does not change his bindings for tomorrow’s event, they will protest the results. Well, they’ll protest if he beats an Austrian, that is.

NBC has the full story and video of Ammann’s gold medal run. Take a look. What do you think? Something not right there?