Peking – Daniela Maier first crouched disappointed in the snow, then leaned irritated against a wall – and after a few minutes of video evidence break didn’t even want her unexpected bronze medal. “My nerves were on edge. I thought that was unfair,” said the German ski crosser from the Black Forest after the biggest, most dramatic success of her career. It was only when her team hugged her after the jury’s decision and celebrated with “You’re the best woman” chants that the 25-year-old was happy.
Maier will probably never forget this emotional roller coaster ride. After all, she had already finished with the first Olympic medal for a German ski crosser. In fourth place, Maier crossed the finish line in the Olympic victory of Swede Sandra Näslund behind Canadian Marielle Thompson and Fanny Smith from Switzerland. But on the video wall only gold for Näslund and silver for Thompson were initially confirmed in the snow flurry from Zhangjiakou. The rest was under review, with the jury using video evidence due to an unfair action by Smith.
Minutes of waiting for the medal decision
For minutes, Maier trembled at minus 20 degrees, looked spellbound at the scoreboard and bit his fingernails. Then salvation. While Smith no longer understood the world, Maier didn’t know how to react. “Fanny received a yellow card for her maneuver on the home stretch. There is a relatively clear set of rules. If a driver can be assumed to be intentional and another driver slows down significantly, then that’s a yellow card,” said sport director Heli Herdt. “It’s the medal.”
The German Peter Krogoll was responsible for the video evidence. However, the decision was made by a five-person jury. Maier’s medal is no longer contestable. She expressed herself reluctantly: “She took my speed a little bit. We have a racing jury for that. This is pure ski cross.”
First Olympic medal in ski cross for the DSV
Race director Klaus Waldner defended the relegation of the Swiss. “In the case in question, the jury is of the opinion that Fanny Smith could have just driven,” said the Austrian. But Smith is taking a big step to the left. “As a result, Dani lost his balance and all of his momentum. This action influenced the result as Dani would have passed without the contact.”
Maier, who traveled to China with outsider chances, gave the German Ski Association its first Olympic medal in this discipline. Already in the quarterfinals and semifinals she had been on the verge of being eliminated. From what was meanwhile last place, Maier fought his way forward again and again on the icy track. “It was a thriller, she just earned it,” praised Herdt.