Daniel Tschofenig, the last champion of the 2025 World Cup in long trampoline, was disqualified from the Winter Olympic Games after it was found that he used boots whose size was two centimeters larger than his foot, in violation of the regulations.This not only cut short their quest for a medal, but also triggered a stricter review of equipment controls, in a context where technology and precision in material measurement are a priority for the organizers.
After disqualification in the series, the Slovak Hektor Kapustik advanced to the final, in which the Slovenian Domen Prevc won the gold, the Japanese RenNikaido won the silver and the Polish Kacper Tomasiak won the bronze.The review of the equipment carried out by the organizers was categorical.Although Tschofenig had reached 137.7 points during the first round in Pedrazzo, which allowed him to place in eighth place and aspire to a place on the podium, the discovery left him out of the competition.
The athlete himself admitted his mistake to the Austrian radio station ORF: “I wore the new shoes during training. Although I was not very happy with them, I kept them for the competition. Unfortunately, I was too naive and did not check the size properly. It was very stupid of me. There was a lot of stress at that time. But the rules are the rules,” he said.
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Tschofenig’s case was not isolated at Milano-Cortina 2026. Last Sunday, the American Annika Belshaw was also disqualified in the women’s event for using skis whose length exceeded the allowed margin by more than one centimeter.The rules on ski jumping equipment do not only affect footwear: the maximum length of the skis is determined by the height and body mass index (BMI) of the athlete.
Former jumper Jernej Damjan highlighted the magnitude of the expulsion: “Tschofenig finally regained his best form, but as soon as he did, he was expelled from the competition.”The severity of the new checks seeks to avoid any undue advantage, in a sport where every centimeter in equipment can mean flying several more meters and make the difference between an Olympic podium and elimination.
Tschofenig, 23, began his international career in 2018 in the FIS Cup and made his World Cup debut in January 2021 in Bischofshofen, where he scored his first point in the top category.At the junior stage, he achieved outstanding results: he was fourth in the individual competition at the 2021 World Junior Championships in Lahti, achieving team gold.In 2022, in Zakopane, he won three gold medals (individual, team and mixed teams) at the Junior World Cup.
In the senior category, Tschofenig added more than 20 podiums in the World Cup, with individual and team victories.His first individual triumph came in Wisła in December 2024. In the 2024/25 season, he became the first jumper born in the 21st century to win an individual event, the prestigious Four Hills Tournament and the overall World Cup.In addition, he is a multiple medalist in world championships: team bronze in Planica 2023 and team silver in Trondheim 2025. Among other achievements, the Austrian won individual and mixed team gold at the 2023 European Games and several Austrian national championships.He holds the personal jumping record of 239 meters, established in Planica in 2025.
