Olympic confusion: ski crosser has to return her medal

Swiss Ski's appeal was successful. After the controversial decision on February 17th in Zhangjiakou, the Swiss ski crosser Fanny Smith was subsequently awarded Olympic bronze - to the chagrin of the German Daniela Maier, who had to return the precious metal.

The jury's decision at the time to move Smith back from third to fourth place after a controversial driving maneuver in the final was therefore annulled. So Maier loses her precious metal nine days after winning the medal, while Smith can celebrate.

“I’m obviously relieved about this decision,” says Smith. “Because I was always convinced that I had not made a mistake. At the same time, it hurts me for Daniela Maier, who is now the victim of the situation.” Maier has to return the medal 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 in response to a dpa request. When asked, the International Olympic Committee announced that it would assess the situation once all appeals had been completed.

The Swiss Smith initially finished in third place in the ski cross final in Zhangjiakou, China on February 17th, one place ahead of Maier. When the Swede Sandra Näslund won ahead of the Canadian Marielle Thompson, the jury only immediately confirmed gold and silver. Smith was stripped of third place after minutes of video study. According to the jury, the 29-year-old had hindered her German opponent by taking a step to the left on the home straight. Unavoidable contact According to Fis, the appeal committee met four times and, after hours of analysis, came to the conclusion that the contact between the athletes was neither intentional nor avoidable. A warning should therefore have been issued against Smith, but this did not result in a sanction.

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Olympic confusion: ski crosser has to return her medal

This decision will still cause debate: After an objection, a ski crosser's bronze medal at the Green Table was withdrawn.

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