Andreas Wellinger Rails Against Lack of Mixed Events in Winter Sports: "Bums Me Out"
Olympic ski jumping champ Andreas Wellinger isn't afraid to voice his displeasure with the upcoming winter sports schedule. Speaking ahead of the season's kickoff in Ruka, Finland, Wellinger expressed his disappointment in the lack of mixed competitions. "It's a shame," he said. "The mixed format is a blast – spectators go wild and the competitions are neck-and-neck. I'd prefer to see a few more mixed events instead of the Super Team competitions we've been having lately."
The Super Team Gottcha features only two athletes per nation, and while Wellinger appreciates the team camaraderie in the Super Team format, he still prefers including more nationals. "I dig individual competitions where four from one nation can compete," he added.
Mixed events have been a staple in the World Cup over the past few years, but Wellinger believes the 2022 Olympic mixed event in Beijing faced some unnecessary controversy – the event was overshadowed by a few suit-related disqualifications.
Wellinger also expressed frustration with the lack of athlete involvement in competition decision-making. "We athletes have no say in these decisions," he said. "The powers that be decide things that affect us – good or bad – with zero input from the people actually competing in these events. It's boggling."
From Wellinger's perspective, the goal should be "to maintain tradition" in the realm of winter sports. He believes that the increasingly popular Super Team competitions are replacing traditional team events, which he prefers due to the inclusion of a greater number of athletes from each nation.
What's Behind Wellinger's Discontent?
Wellinger's frustration with the changing competition formats can be attributed to:
- Loss of Team Camaraderie: Wellinger joins many athletes who value the personal connections and team dynamics that traditional team competitions foster.
- Reduced Athlete Representation: Traditional team events offer more chances for athletes from each nation to shine, promoting national pride and diversity in the competition field.
- Tradition and Historical Exemplars: Athletes like Wellinger may prefer competition formats that are more familiar and align better with their personal experiences and the sports' traditional values.
To get more specifics on what Wellinger has to say about the current state of competition events, check out his interviews or news articles covering the subject.
