Winter Olympics penis dishonest fears as manhood measurers to ‘examine they are not larger’
‘Penis-gate’ has thrown one Winter Olympics event into an alleged scandal ahead of the Milano Cortina Games getting underway in Italy this week
Ski jumping has been featured at the Winter Olympics for over 100 years(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Ski jumping has come under peculiar scrutiny ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics thanks to ‘penis-gate’.
The discipline has featured at the Games since 1924, but worries have surfaced regarding a potential controversy engulfing the sport. The Milano Cortina Games got underway on Wednesday, 48 hours ahead of the spectacular opening ceremony at the legendary San Siro.
Ski jumpers face their initial compulsory training session on Friday. The competition wraps up with the men’s super team finals on Monday, February 16. Nevertheless, there are anxieties about the drastic steps some male competitors might pursue in their hunt for Olympic triumph.
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German newspaper Bild claim that “penis-gate” has emerged as a significant concern within ski jumping. Reports suggest fears that certain athletes are using hyaluronic acid injections in their private parts to secure a competitive edge.
Ski suits face strict regulation with precise measurements and must correspond to an athlete’s physical dimensions. Data is collected prior to each season via 3D scanning technology, which determines an individual’s stride length from the lowest point of the genital region.
A more spacious suit can enhance performance, as increased surface area helps reduce descent velocity and improves balance. In theory, a male ski jumper enlarging their manhood could boost their competitive showing.
The report alleges that some athletes inject hyaluronic acid to enlarge their genitals ahead of the 3D scan. No athlete has been formally accused of using this method.
However, Team Norway were found to have manipulated the crotch region of their outfits at last year’s World Championships. Head coach Magnus Brevik, assistant coach Thomas Lobben and staff member Adrian Livelten were handed 18-month bans, while defending Olympic large hill ski jump champion Marius Lindvik and two-time medallist Johann Andre Forfang received three-month suspensions.
Dr. Kamran Karim, a senior consultant at Maria-Hilf Hospital in Krefeld, told BILD: “It is possible to achieve a temporary, visual thickening of the penis by injecting paraffin or hyaluronic acid. However, this does not lengthen it. Such an injection is not medically indicated and is associated with risks.”
Watch Winter Olympics 2026 live on discovery+
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is running from February 6-22 and fans can enjoy more than 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video.
Throughout the games, the £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription will provide access to TNT Sports 2, the home of 24/7 Olympic coverage.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) are reportedly considering measuring stride length manually. There were calls for the FIS to implement extra measures ahead of the Winter Olympics.
“Currently, no further measurements are planned,” FIS equipment chief Matthias Hafele said last month. “However, we are already working on methods to improve this complex problem.”
But another added measure has been put in place, with a control checkpoint seeing a tamper-proof microchip installed to each suit after the 3D scanning.
