“It was stupid at that moment”
Wellinger talks about the hole that could have destroyed everything
January 1, 2024, 10:07 a.m
A hole in the suit is a topic of conversation after Andreas Wellinger’s opening victory at the Four Hills Tournament. Because an official chooses harsh words on television, the German has to explain himself. And now talks about a “stupid moment”.
For Andreas Wellinger, the much-discussed hole in his ski jumping suit at the Four Hills Tournament is not a completely new experience. “This happens every now and then,” said the 28-year-old in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. “We have a flexible fabric with a normal thread from a sewing machine. Everyone knows that from trousers or a T-shirt: it just tears at some point.” Wellinger added: “It was just stupid at that moment. I’ll just make sure it doesn’t happen again. I just have to cheer a little less.”
There was a hole in Wellinger’s suit in his right armpit after qualifying for the opening competition in Oberstdorf. Material controller Christian Kathol then told the Norwegian TV station NRK: “If he had been with me and I had seen the suit, he would have been disqualified.” Then Wellinger would not have been allowed to compete in the competition the following day, which he won. No association subsequently lodged a protest against Wellinger.
“I wouldn’t have jumped a meter further or shorter because of that,” said Wellinger about the damage to the suit. He also won the Oberstdorf qualification. “I apparently cheered too much, which is why he stood up when he threw up his arms.” TV images, among other things, show that the hole actually only appeared after the jump. It has since been patched up, Wellinger said.
This Monday he wants to extend his lead in the overall tour standings at the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (2 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport and in the live ticker on ntv.de). His goal is the first German Four Hills Tournament victory since Sven Hannawald’s triumph in 2002. Wellinger took second place in the qualification on New Year’s Eve. When asked whether the current form was starting to seem scary to him, he said: “It’s not scary, because it’s fun. I can reproduce it really well. It’s good in terms of body feeling. The control from the big toe to the tips of the hair works and That’s the crucial thing for me.”