- Japan's Sara Takanashi issued an apology after she was disqualified for loose-fitting clothing.
- Takanashi wrote on Instagram that she had "changed everyone's lives" by costing Japan a medal shot.
Japanese ski jumper Sara Takanashi apologized to her teammates on social media after she was disqualified from the mixed team event for loose-fitting clothing.
Five women were disqualified from the event after officials determined they were wearing baggy suits that could have given them more loft in the air. According to Reuters, Takanashi's suit was determined to be two centimeters wider than permitted around her thighs.
On Instagram, Takanashi said she had "changed everyone's lives" with her disqualification.
"I am very sorry that the chance of winning a medal has been taken away from the Japanese team," Takanashi wrote, according to a translation from CNN.
"It is an undeniable fact that my disqualification changed everyone's lives. Even if I apologize, the medal will not be returned."
The disqualifications sparked outrage among the affected teams.
Germany's Katharina Althaus said the International Ski Federation had "destroyed everything" with the disqualifications.
"I think they have destroyed women's ski jumping," said Althaus. "I have been checked so many times in 11 years of ski jumping, and I have never been disqualified once. I know my suit was compliant."
German coach Stefan Horngacher said the skiers' suits had not caused any issues during practice. He called the disqualifications "parody."
"It is just strange that they have been using the same suits yesterday and there was no problem," German coach Stefan Horngacher said, Busbee reported. "It is annoying that this happens at the Winter Olympic Games. This should all be cleared before."
Anna Odine Strøm of Norway said the measurement method was different from usual and blamed her loose-fitting clothing on being in quarantine.
"It was a bit strange and didn't conform to how it's been done in the past," Strøm said, The Guardian reported. "It is a bit the result of me being in quarantine and not eating properly the whole week."
Slovenia went on to win the event in dominant fashion. Russia took silver, and Canada took bronze.