Ski jumping rocked by ‘penis-gate’ claims athletes manipulated genitals for aerodynamic edge
A controversial new scandal is putting ski jumping under the microscope, as reports suggest some athletes may be altering their genital measurements to gain an aerodynamic advantage.
According to the German tabloid Bild, professional ski jumpers are allegedly using substances like hyaluronic acid—sometimes applied within a silicone sleeve—to temporarily enlarge the genital area ahead of official body scans.
The manipulation is said to allow athletes to wear slightly larger ski suits, which can increase lift and improve aerodynamics, potentially adding crucial meters to their jumps. Ski jumpers undergo mandatory pre-season body scans to determine the exact dimensions of their suits, as required by the sport’s governing body, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
Bild reports that measurements are taken from the lowest point of an athlete’s genitals. “If you manage to move that point downward, you automatically get more surface area on the suit,” the outlet explained, noting the extra fabric could provide a measurable advantage in flight. The tabloid emphasizes these claims come from “behind-the-scenes” information and that no individual athletes have been formally accused.
Norwegian star Halvor Egner Granerud called the idea “completely absurd,” telling Dagbladet he had never encountered such practices. He explained that pre-season scans are conducted with standardized underwear under medical supervision, designed to prevent manipulation. While body warmth can affect measurements slightly, the notion of injecting substances into the penis to gain an advantage “sounds extreme” and is not something he believes occurs in the sport.
The scandal comes amid unrelated disciplinary actions in Norway. Last week, two Norwegian ski jumping coaches and a team suit technician were suspended for 18 months by the FIS for allegedly tampering with suits during the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim. Investigators reportedly found video evidence of the head coach, Magnus Brevig, and a suit technician inserting illegal non-elastic stitching into the crotch area of two athletes’ suits on the final day of the competition.
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