“We don’t want to accept that”: Daniela Maier has to worry about Olympic bronze

“We don’t want to accept that”
Daniela Maier has to worry about Olympic bronze

Ski crosser Daniela Maier wins bronze at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing after a minute-long video study. Her opponent Fanny Smith is said to have hindered her on the home stretch. The Swiss file an objection. That will be granted. The DSV does not want to accept that.

The German ski crosser Daniela Maier is threatened with the subsequent loss of her Olympic bronze medal. After an objection by fourth-placed Fanny Smith and the Swiss Ski Association, the Appeal Committee of the World Federation Fis has decided to overturn the jury’s decision in the final of the women’s race at the Winter Games in China. This was announced by the Fis. Smith is now rated third, Maier fourth.

Losing third place does not automatically mean losing the Olympic medal. A possible scenario would be that another bronze medal is awarded.

The German Ski Association (DSV) does not want to accept the decision. “We are examining all legal steps. We don’t want to accept that,” said a spokesman. When asked, the International Olympic Committee announced that the situation would be evaluated once all appeals had been resolved.

Smith says he’s “relieved”

Switzerland’s Smith initially finished third in the ski cross final in Zhangjiakou, China on February 17, one place ahead of Maier. When Swede Sandra Näslund won ahead of Canadian Marielle Thompson, the jury only immediately confirmed gold and silver. Smith was stripped of third place after a minute-long video study. In the opinion of the jury, the 29-year-old had hindered her German opponent on the home straight by stepping to the left.

According to Fis, the appointments committee met four times and, after hours of analysis, came to the conclusion that the contact between the athletes was neither intended nor avoidable. A warning should therefore have been issued against Smith, but this does not result in a sanction.

“Of course I’m relieved about this decision,” says Smith. “Because I was always convinced that I hadn’t made a mistake. At the same time, it hurts me for Daniela Maier, who is now suffering from the situation.”

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