Timi Zajc was disqualified. © AFP / JURE MAKOVEC

"I find it outrageous": Anger over disqualified ski jumper

Former world-class ski jumper Martin Schmitt has harshly criticized the Slovenian Timi Zajc, who has been disqualified again.

02 January 2026

From: dpa/det

"This is a wake-up call for him. I find it cheeky – and not in a good way," he said. Eurosport-Expert after the New Year's ski jumping event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: "In Oberstdorf, I felt a bit sorry for him. But I have absolutely no understanding whatsoever for what happened here."

Zajc has been disqualified from the competition for the second time in a row due to a non-compliant ski jumping suit. This time, the garment deviated from the standard by four millimeters. In Oberstdorf, it was three millimeters. Zajc was disqualified before his first jump and is now barred from competing in this Four Hills Tournament.

Schmitt on control: "That's consistent"

Zajc took his disqualification at the first Four Hills Tournament stop in the Allgäu region with humor. "Let's stretch the suit a bit, maybe everything will be okay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen," the 25-year-old wrote on Instagram, referring to the New Year's Day ski jumping event.

Timi Zajc was disqualified. © AFP / JENS SCHLUETER

"His laughing laugh probably made the inspector think today: 'Okay, then we'll check before the jump and not after, when you've stretched it.' And it didn't pass again," said Schmitt. "That's consistent and gives Timi Zajc a little break to think about it."

Hoffmann: "The controls are very strict."

The doping control officers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen found rule violations not only in Zajc's case. Two other athletes, American Jason Colby and Turk Fatih Arda Ipcioglu, were also removed from the competition.

"The checks are very strict. You have to keep an eye on everything to make sure it's all in order," said Felix Hoffmann, currently the best German in fourth place in the Four Hills Tournament standings. "There's a lot you have to check beforehand. But that's what we professionals are for. We have to jump with compliant equipment. That's what the rules are for. And anyone who's outside the rules simply isn't allowed to participate."