Ammann insists bindings are not key to his success

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

 SWITZERLAND'S Simon Ammann insists his Olympic gold medal has not being tainted by accusations he has an unfair advantage as he prepares to clinch another victory on Saturday.

NONPLUSSED: Normal hill champion Simon Ammann is not bothered by the Austrian protests that his equipment gives him an unfair advantage on eve of large hill final (Getty Images)

Ammann is on the way to claiming an unprecedented Olympic double in Vancouver, having struck gold in the normal hill competition on last Saturday and impressing in large hill qualification on Friday.

Should Ammann revisit the podium, 28-year-old would repeat his double victory of eight years ago, when he topped both podiums in Salt Lake City.

But his performances in Vancouver have not been without controversy. The Swiss jumpers are using different boot bindings, prompting an official protest from the Austrian team - Switzerland's fierce ski jumping rivals.

And while Ammann revealed he has not taken the protest personally, he believes it was uncalled for.

"Everything is in order," said Ammann, who leapt to 140m on Friday - the third largest jump and the second biggest out of the world's top ten whose qualification for Saturday's final was already assured.

"I never doubted my material was in keeping with the regulations. I am Olympic champion because I am the best jumper not because I have this equipment.

"I look forward to tomorrow. I had good jumps today - it's amazing how good I feel and it just goes on."

"I am in such awesome shape, it makes me a bit nervous. The situation couldn't be any better for tomorrow.

"Sometimes one nation has an advantage but I don't think the protest is anything personal."

Austria's Wolfgang Loitzl, among Ammann's main rivals for large hill gold, could only manage 125.5m in qualifying while his compatriot Gregor Schlierenzauer, last year's World Cup champion, leapt to 134.5m.

And while Loitzl could not deny Ammann's form, he hinted the bindings were playing a factor in his success.

"I don't know if it's an advantage for him - it's good for him, it's not so good for the other jumpers," he said.

"He's in really good shape. I think the bindings help him a little bit, but he's still the strongest jumper.

"I think the athletes don't worry about it, because it's the jumping of the athletes that wins the medals. It doesn't affect me, but if there are any other jumpers who will be affected, I don't know."

The Swiss are using a curved iron binding instead of an elastic one, helping jumpers to stand closer to parallel with their skis in the air, thereby boosting their aerodynamics.

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day eight of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver