The conditions for success in ski jumping in Poland have now become even more difficult.
The Polish Ski Federation requires the female ski jumpers to have a BMI (body mass index) below 21 in order to provide financial support.
- We now have very strict rules for the national team.
It's a brutal sport.
Weight plays a big role and there is no mercy.
With a BMI of 24-25, you have no chance in this sport, says the president of the Polish Ski Association Adam Malysz, former four-time world champion in ski jumping, to Sportowefakty.
"Going backwards"
The Swedish ski jumper, Astrid Norstedt, thinks that the Polish attitude is strange.
- They are going backwards.
You should be able to receive support with food from the association, it should not be a prerequisite for receiving financial support.
It must be an overall assessment, of course the weight is important.
But that's not all.
Many potential talented jumpers are eliminated, says Astrid Norstedt to SVT Sport.
Are there any similar requirements for you and the other Swedish back jumpers?
- We don't have any specific requirements, we work to be able to perform at the level we want.
Norwegian Maren Lundby, who won Olympic gold in 2018 but withdrew from the 2022 Olympics because she did not want to lose weight, believes that this Polish requirement is devastating for the athletes.
Get shorter skis
- Is it really true that it is so?
Because it would not have happened in Norway at least, there is no doubt about that, she tells VG.
The International Ski Federation gives ski jumpers shorter skis depending on your BMI.
For example, if you have a BMI of 21, you get 247 centimeter long skis, and if you have a BMI of 19, you get 233 centimeter long skis.