Technical delegate of the Russian Federation of Ski Racing (FLGR) Igor Belomestnov said that the collapse of Spartakiad student skiers could be due to the fear of athletes, which coaches loudly warned about the first fall. His words are quoted “Match TV”.
“I’m very sorry for the girls. Everyone is worried. There was no rash action (on the part of the organisers). What (the athletes) wrote is absolutely wrong.
There is an assumption that the collapse occurred due to fear. When the first skiers passed this section, one of them rolled over the other because they were traveling in an air tube and they decided to slow down. And at that moment I couldn’t cope and collapsed. And other athletes saw everything, the visibility was great.
Why did the others fall? They fell from a distance of 80 meters, from the first to the last to fall. And as soon as the first fall occurred, the coaches on the track started shouting and warning. And this scream can affect athletes, scare them,” said Belomestnov.
The competition took place on March 8 in the village of Estosadok (Krasnodar Territory). Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) President Elena Vyalbe said that only one skier remained in the hospital after a major collapse. A total of 17 athletes were initially hospitalized.
In the spring of 2022, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) decided to suspend Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until the end of the season. This decision was later extended. Russians compete only in local tournaments.
Former prosecutor’s office started Check out the reality of a massive crash of skiers.