Hanna Huskova dissatisfied with how she was judged at the Olympics. Kazeka: Everything is normal

Hanna Huskova. Photo: AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti

"Everyone saw it today. I did everything 100 percent: the jumps were clean and well executed, and the rest is up to the judges," the Telegram channel of the Belarusian National Olympic Committee quotes Huskova.

Huskova was asked if she felt that the judges "held her back" already during the qualification stage:

"I agree, that's why it's so difficult for me to comment on anything. If I had fallen somewhere, I could blame myself and say that I didn't do everything 100 percent."

She also noted that this Olympic season turned out to be difficult and our freestyle skiers can only be supported:

"I can say that we deserve monuments during our lifetime. In such a short period — we only started ski training in December — we, along with the girls Andryianava and Dziaruga, managed to qualify for the Olympics and show everything we are capable of. And as everyone saw, we performed well. That's why there are no comments regarding the scores. It's very strange for me.

On the plus side, I am very satisfied that I performed my program well. In the final, I had to perform the fourth jump immediately, for the first time this season, to increase the difficulty. I did everything for a medal, but, unfortunately, there is nothing more to add, you all saw it yourselves. Even the stadium announcer commented: "Bravissimo!" However, this does not negate the fact that I am not among the top six strongest."

Chairman of the Belarusian Ski Union Aliaksandr Hrebnieu is also dissatisfied with the judges:

"Today we saw an example of not the fairest judging in relation to our athletes. We saw similar jumps from representatives of other countries, and the scores differed very significantly. And their jumps were not of the highest quality. I repeat, unfortunately, the judging factor in freestyle skiing is very subjective. Yes, there is geographical diversity among the judges, but I will not elaborate. Whoever needs to can look it up online. All the flags and faces are known there. As a leader, I can only express my indignation and draw certain conclusions regarding the judging system."

The sports official promises that "the judging system will not be left unchallenged so easily."

At the same time, the famous coach Mikalai Kazeka, who was removed from work after 2020, has a different opinion regarding Huskova's performance and the judging at the Olympics:

"Hanna performed with dignity. A gross error was made in the distribution of jumps. This is what prevented Hanna from getting into the top six [participants of the second final] and competing for medals."

"Her second jump [in the first final] should have gone first. Then she would have been in contention for medals. Her second jump was more difficult; for it, she received over 100 points, while for the [easier] first one, only 86.44."

"Unfortunately, she brought the same program to Italy with which she became Olympic champion in 2018 and Olympic silver medalist in 2022. She did not make it more complex. Although she had all the opportunities. In Minsk, we have the best freestyle training base in the world [...]"

"Technically, Huskova was at her level. Of course, she didn't advance, but still, the level was not bad. I am sure that the second jump [of the first final, if performed first] would have led her to contend for medals. There was a tactical miscalculation."

As for the judging, Kazeka is categorical:

"I have no complaints. It seems to me that everything was normal in this regard."

He also noted that Hanna Huskova's mother is now very seriously ill, and this could also have put pressure on her.

As for the two other Belarusian participants in these Olympics, Hanna Dziaruga and Anastasiya Andryianava, Mikalai Kazeka says the following:

"Firstly, let me remind you that they didn't even qualify for the Olympics. They were included at the last moment. Secondly, they are not yet ready for more difficult jumps. Even the not-so-difficult jumps [with a maximum coefficient of 3.150] that they performed were not executed very well. [22-year-old] Dziaruga and [21-year-old] Andryianava are already at an age where they should be showing results, but there are none."

Kazeka refrained with a smile from answering the question of whether this is happening due to his removal from working with the national team.

Let us remind you that gold in this discipline was won by Chinese Xu Mengtao (112.9), silver by Australian Danielle Scott (102.17), and bronze by Chinese Xie Shao (101.9).

The Australian who won silver is, by the way, coached by Belarusian Dzmitry Dashchynski — bronze medalist at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and silver medalist at Turin 2006. Therefore, this award also shows the influence of the renowned Belarusian school of ski aerials.

Starting from 1998, Belarusian freestyle skiers brought medals from all Olympics, including gold in 2010, 2014, and 2018. These Olympics became the first without awards in almost 30 years.

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