Olympic champion criticizes FIS: Favoritism for Hirscher?

World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Breezy Johnson sharply criticizes the FIS's new material rule.

Specifically, the rule concerns the maximum weight for skis. For men, downhill skis may not exceed a total of 10.6 kilograms, and 10.4 kilograms for women. The FIS hopes this will lead to greater safety.

In an interview with "welovesnow.ch", the American doubts the effectiveness of the measures and accuses the world governing body of neglecting other safety aspects.

"If the FIS had evidence that lighter skis are safer, I would be the first to say: Even if the material makes it slower, if it's safer, we should use it. But I don't believe any studies have been conducted on this. The investigations they talk about at European Cup level will not be sufficient to provide truly robust answers."

"FIS should learn from this"

Above all, what irks Johnson is the lack of a scientific basis for the rule change from her perspective.

"They haven't hired engineers or conducted any computer simulations. The history of the FIS since 2013 isn't particularly convincing in this regard either. In 2013, even more research was done before the introduction of new rules than for this rule.

As far as I understand, however, those changes reduced neither knee nor leg injuries. Instead, back injuries increased, and the sport even became more unsafe as a result. The FIS should learn from this."

"Nobody asks how..."

"Instead, the FIS is trying to shift the responsibility for making ski racing safer onto the ski manufacturers," Johnson criticizes, "even though they don't even have voting rights within the FIS."

Instead of focusing on the material, Johnson believes the FIS should also consider other measures. "But nobody asks how to set safer courses or how to create better travel plans."

Marcel Hirscher also comes into focus

Johnson also draws a comparison to Marcel Hirscher, accusing the FIS of applying different standards.

"At the same time, the FIS is practically bending over backward to allow Marcel Hirscher to return to the sport. In my opinion, some of his material setups are bordering on what is safe. However, the FIS would never consider taking action against his material, while apparently having no problem at all targeting mine."

The new rule also appears to be causing great displeasure within her team: "My ski technician was even angrier than me. He feels personally attacked and is therefore incredibly motivated to show them."

In this context, Johnson recalls her compatriot Ted Ligety, who once also resisted material changes.

"Ted Ligety won with the new skis back then anyway and simultaneously continued to fight against the rules."