More drama is unfolding at the Olympic slopes.
Igor Medved, the ski jumping coach from Finland, has been sent home and will not participate in the 2026 Olympics due to breaching team rules on alcohol use. While the incident occurred during his personal time, it was still considered a violation by the Finnish team.
The Finnish Olympic Committee confirmed Medved, age 44, has officially departed from Italy. Janne Hänninen, the head of elite sport at FOC, stated the committee takes rule breaches “very seriously” and has chosen to respond decisively.
“The safety of our athletes and coaching staff is our utmost priority,” Hänninen remarked.
Marlena Valtasola, secretary general of the Finnish Ski Federation, mentioned that the team would evaluate the issue further after the Olympics to ensure athletes stay focused on competing. He will remain under contract with the team.
“We have a strong staff and are confident that we can manage this situation effectively,” Valtasola added.
Medved has also expressed regret over the situation.
“I made a mistake, and I sincerely apologize,” he stated. “I want to extend my apologies to the Finnish team, the athletes, and fans. I hope they can concentrate peacefully on the Olympics.”
Medved has been coaching for 16 years, having represented Slovenia in international ski jumping between 2001 and 2006. He was appointed head coach of the Finnish men’s ski jumping team in June 2024, marking his first role as a head coach internationally, and he is notably the second foreigner to hold this position.
Before his dismissal, he led Finland to a sixth-place finish in the recent mixed team event.
2026 Winter Olympics
Finland has managed just a single medal so far: Eero Hirvonen’s bronze in the Nordic combined at the Milan-Cortina Games. Notably, Italy leads the medal count with 15, while Norway holds the most gold medals with 7.
This coming Saturday, the men’s individual large hill event is set to take place, and Finland will be aiming for a medal despite Medved’s absence.
It’s uncertain if his removal will impact the Finnish competitors, but it certainly presents a challenge.
