Federation officials say average body mass among competitive ski jumpers has continued to trend downward, reviving long-standing concerns about athletes pushing weight below levels considered safe for their height.
Lower body mass improves the lift-to-drag ratio during flight, creating a direct competitive incentive that existing rules — including minimum ski length tied to body mass index — haven't fully offset.
"The rules were designed around the incentives we saw fifteen years ago. Athletes have found new room within them since." — Technical delegate, international ski federation
Medical staff working with national teams say they're seeing more athletes flagged during routine health screenings, adding pressure on federations to revisit the weight-related rules before the issue becomes harder to manage.
