"Punch and puppet theater": Stefan Horngacher scolds after disqualification earthquake in Beijing

After Katharina Althaus was disqualified, national coach Horngacher grumbled about the equipment control and spoke of a "Punch and Punch show". Four teams were affected in the mixed decision.

After the disqualification of Katharina Althaus in the mixed competition of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, the two national coaches of the German team are outraged. Stefan Horngacher spoke on 'ZDF' of a “Punch and Punch show”.

“Of course it was really bitter. You have to say about the controls, they are just starting to measure differently or more at the Olympics," said the visibly agitated men's national coach: "In my view, it's not in the interest of the sport, instead you have to shiver to see if you can get through . We try everything to really tailor the suits.”

Team manager Hüttel: "We are all pissed off"

In addition to Althaus, Sara Takanashi from Japan and Austria's Daniela Iraschko-Stolz were also disqualified. Unlike the DSV quartet, their teams still reached the final round, but had no chance in the fight for precious metal with one non-ranked jump each. Norway's Anna Odine Stroem was only disqualified in the second round.

DSV team manager Horst Hüttel explained that the head coaches of the other teams had also expressed their outrage. "We're all pissed off. The girls say in unison that they all jumped the same suits as in the individual competition. It's an incomprehensible situation," Hüttel told ZDF and went on to explain: "Katharina says she's been completely checked out for as long as she's never had before and she had the feeling that until something was found."

As a possible reason, Hüttel also mentioned the fact that the men's inspector Mika Jukkara was also present for the first time in addition to the equipment inspector Aga Baczkowska. "I don't know if he gave any other instructions. The talks afterwards will show that.”

More about that right here at skisprung.com.