Freestyle Skiing Olympic Games Milano Cortina

'It was b******!' - German skier Tim Hronek fumes after being 'pushed like crazy' by Ryan Regez in Milano Cortina ski cross controversy

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There was huge drama in the men's ski cross on Saturday as Tim Hronek and Ryan Regez were embroiled in an altercation which led the German to describe his semi-final elimination as "b******". TNT Sports commentator Ian Findlay said he had not seen events like this unfold throughout his entire time covering the sport, as Regez held his arm out to stop Hronek advancing into second place.

German skier fumes at 'b******t' after being 'pushed like crazy' in ski cross final

Video credit: TNT Sports

German skier Tim Hronek hit out at a "b******" moment which led to his elimination from the men's ski cross, as he said Switzerland's Ryan Regez "pushed me like crazy".

During their semi-final run, Hronek was approaching Regez on the inside in the hope of advancing on Alex Fiva out in front.

But in a wild altercation, Regez stuck his arm out and blocked Hronek's approach, which saw him stumble and lose speed, before Satoshi Furuno capitalised from fourth place to advance into second, where he stayed to seal the final qualification spot.

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Hronek appeared furious when he crossed the finish line in third, and had choice words when he spoke to TNT Sports after his elimination.

"I’m not feeling super happy because it was so close for the big final there, it was b******," Hronek said. "I think everyone saw it. He pushed me like crazy.

"The door was open for the big final here now. Everyone knows the Olympics is just about one, two, three. In the end, I can say I’m proud of myself because I performed on the important day. That’s good."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Asked if he would have liked to see a more severe punishment for Regez than the yellow card he received, Hronek said: "Yeah I don’t know. They gave him a yellow card.

"For me it’s nothing. You could give him a red card, and he’s out for the next race; but in the end, he did it and, for me, the race was done. I did the small final and tried to do my best skiing, but the race with the medals was over."

Emily Sarsfield, speaking on TNT Sports' commentary, was shocked upon second viewing of the incident.

"I think that might be a red card," she said. "He [Regez] cases on his jump, and then slows down so much.

"Here's where Hronek tries to get in, and he puts his arm across Hronek. You cannot do that! And that slows Hronek down so much, and he's looked behind going:'What on earth are you doing'?"

Ian Findlay, meanwhile, added: "It's a big no no. It's not something we have seen. I haven't seen it for the 10 years covering this sport."

There was yet more ski cross drama on Saturday, as Jared Schmidt and Erik Mobaerg saw their dreams end in tatters after they were eliminated following an investigation from race officials.

Mobaerg was given a DNF (did not finish) for straddling - when a skier incorrectly goes over a gate incorrectly - while Schmidt was issued a yellow card for intentional, aggressive or illegal contact with another skier. The penalty is a last-place finish in the race.

For the pair, it meant their involvement in the competition was brought to a close, and on the broadcast footage, Schmidt looked baffled as he received the news, and slammed one of his poles in frustration as a result.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Speaking on TNT Sports, commentator Findlay explained the developments.

"There has been a change in the result from Heat No. 6. Erik Mobaerg has been given a DNF, and a yellow card for Jared Schmidt," he explained to viewers. "What that means is Fiva goes through, and Daniel Paulus goes through."

He continued: "A DNF means Mobaerg has straddled somewhere, and missed the gate. They feel that Jared Schmidt has made contact and initially..." before trailing off as Sarsfield made her observation.

She added: "Jared Schmidt is in the red suit here. Mobaerg, here’s the straddle, OK."

Findlay watched as Schmidt’s temper boiled over, and going from the initially broadcast action on the replay, he found it difficult to pick out a problem with Schmidt’s performance.

He explained: "He’s frustrated, you get that. Well, controversy in heat six. We need to look at it a lot more to really unpick it.

"Personally, I couldn’t see much in it, but I’ll have to look at it to be sure. Because Mobaerg has straddled, Schmidt has had to react."

Sarsfield concluded that more information was needed to understand Schmidt’s punishment: "There wasn’t anything obvious caught in the replay."

Swedish competitor Mobaerg, 28, has two bronze medals from previous World Championships, but is yet to earn an Olympic medal.

Canada's Schmidt, also 28, has two World Cup medals in the event, and also represented his country in the 2022 event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Paulus was one of the underdogs in the heat, while Paulus had a silver from his time participation at Beijing, and a gold in the 2021 World Championships won in Idre, Kazakhstan.

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