Brawlers look different. When the last competition of the winter was over with the ski cross competition in Andermatt at the weekend, the sixth and second placed fell into each other’s arms, warmly and for a long time. It would never have occurred to uninvolved observers that there could be a rift between Daniela Maier and Fanny Smith.
But there is something between the two, even if they gave a pretty harmonious picture in the invitation race trimmed for spectacle. Your cause has been occupying the lawyers of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Ski Association (FIS) for more than a month. Subject of the dispute: the Olympic bronze medal in ski cross, awarded on February 17 – to Daniela Maier.
However, a few days later, after an objection from fourth-placed Fanny Smith and the Swiss Ski Association, the FIS Appeal Committee overturned the jury’s decision. Now Smith was third. On the other hand, the German Ski Association (DSV) has raised an objection. Now the IOC has to decide. When, nobody knows. A bad situation. Life and the competitions have to go on.
After all, the medal is doing well so far; she is in Marquartstein in Chiemgau, and if Daniela Maier, 26, has her way, there is little reason to move the noble piece to Switzerland any time soon. Even if the Swiss colleague Smith celebrates on her homepage as a two-time bronze medalist at the Olympic Games in 2018 and 2022. Regarding the F# decision, Smith said: “Of course I’m relieved about this decision, because I was always convinced that I hadn’t made a mistake. At the same time, it hurts for Daniela, who is now suffering.”
“There’s nothing between us,” says Maier about the Swiss colleague
At the team hotel in Andermatt, Maier now says: “Fanny and I talked about how we’re doing. There’s nothing between us. We’ve been skiing together for six years, ever since I’ve been in the World Cup, we train together and get along well also really good. It will stay that way.” As far as the medal is concerned, you will see: “In any case, nobody has asked me to hand it in. I don’t see through it either.”
The case is tricky and probably unique. Heli Herdt, the sports director of the German ski crossers, would not claim that he has perspective. But he had “already dealt too much with rules and structures that I am convinced that the jury made the right decision on site,” says Herdt on the phone. “Daniela Maier is listed as a medalist on the IOC website. Anyone who says otherwise is not telling the truth. Fis cannot decide that it has to give the medal back. Only the IOC can award medals. Fis speaks in its Statement also with no word of the medal – because they can’t do that.”
Waiting for the video evidence: Daniela Maier, Fanny Smith and Olympic champion Sandra Näslund (from left) at the finish of the snowcross competition in the China Games.
(Photo: Angelika Warmuth/dpa)
On February 17, Smith finished third at the Zhangjiakou Winter Games, one place ahead of the German. The Swede Sandra Naeslund won ahead of Marielle Thompson (Canada), but the jury only immediately confirmed gold and silver, which the athletes didn’t really notice at the finish. As is usual in ski cross, the top three clustered closely while the fourth-placed rider stood to the side like a drowned poodle.
“When I crossed the finish line, I was just disappointed,” remembers Maier, “you congratulate the others and then you just want to clear the field. But I wasn’t allowed out – it was kind of crazy. As long as something is under review, you’re allowed to Don’t leave the target area. And the review took a long time. I just thought: They’ll think something about it when they look at it again.”
After several minutes of studying the video, Smith was stripped of third place because, in the opinion of the jury, the 29-year-old handicapped her German competitor by stepping to the side shortly before the finish line. That meant: Bronze for Maier. At first she didn’t understand what was going on: “I was a bit confused. Fanny had comforted me: Cheer up, she said, look what you drove: You can be proud of it.”
It’s true: In the quarter and semi-finals, Maier, who was eighth in the overall World Cup this season, fought her way from behind with courageous runs to the final: “I’m very proud of my performance on that day,” she said. “I’ve never skied so well, I also had brutally fast skis under my feet.” It was one of those days when everything fits, and at the high point of four years – if there weren’t still this uncertainty.
On Saturday there is a reception for Maier in Furtwangen – no matter how it ends
Maier says the following about the controversial scene: “While driving, we can’t really judge it that badly, I felt a touch, but there’s a jury for something like that.” She then tried to “celebrate on behalf of both of us” at the flower ceremony and the award ceremony. She enjoyed “standing there with Sandra Naeslund and Marielle Thompson, two ski cross legends. All the teammates were there, it didn’t take 10,000 spectators.” A rollercoaster of emotions – and a day at the end of which Daniela Maier lay in bed with an Olympic medal around her neck.
And should she put it out again? “Until the IOC is at her door, she keeps the thing,” says Heli Herdt. The athlete behaved “extremely fairly, is a person who seeks harmony; she also wants to have her peace”.
On Saturday there will be a reception for the federal police officer at home in Furtwangen’s market square, and as soon as the IOC has made a decision, the text for the banner can also be printed locally. So far it says: “SC Urach greets Daniela Maier, our Olympic ski cross participant.” Maybe the word bronze can be added soon. Daniela Maier has one wish: “It would be great if there was a happy ending and we both got a medal. That would be the best scenario.” No contradiction anywhere.