(NEXSTAR) – Two-time Olympic athlete Casey Larson really wishes we’d all just forget about “crotch-gate.” Larson, now a ski-jumping coach, spoke with Nexstar Olympic correspondents Andrew Marden and Ryan Burrow about the cheating scandal involving two Norwegian athletes last year. But the subject — and the assumption that these types of transgressions are somehow commonplace in the sport — left Larson feeling a bit, well, crotchety. “It’s complete and utter ridiculousness,” Larson said. “I, as a plugged-in athlete for a very long time, have heard nothing about this … No, it’s not happening.” Larson did, however, speak of some “controversy” within the sport over the past year, likely referencing Norwegian ski-jumpers Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang who were found to have extra fabric applied to the seams of their uniforms during the World Ski Championships in 2025. The material was discovered after an examination of the seams of their crotches after the event. An augmented suit, and especially one with more surface area, could allow for more lift and a longer jump. (Just one centimeter of extra fabric in the V-position of the uniform was found to potentially lengthen a jump by close to 3 meters, a recent study found.) “Surface area is king,” Larson remarked. “We want to be a flying squirrel out there.” He also said some athletes may “push the limits” of acceptable surface area, perhaps with their uniforms or gloves, but didn’t it was widespread. It’s also an “equipment-based” sport, which means that every piece of gear — skis, helmet, boots — could have an impact on the length of a jump, and that sometimes puts a spotlight on the wrong elements. Commenting on why “crotch-gate” may have become blown out of proportion, Larson thinks it’s because some athletes are always wary of an exceptionally good performance. But he usually gives the same answer to those with suspicions. “I go, ‘[It’s] because he’s better than everybody. [It’s] because she’s better than everybody. That’s why they’re jumping better.’” In the case of the cheating scandal at the Ski World Championships in 2025, the incident spurred the International Ski Federation (FIS) to implement a new rule that’s currently in effect at the Milan Cortina Winter Games: a more thorough inspection of the ski jumping uniforms. Their gear is now be pre-screened by two FIS controllers and a doctor, who use 3-D measurements to evaluate athletes in their uniforms. After suits pass the control checkpoint, tamper-proof microchips are affixed throughout the suit to prevent manipulation. Scanners will be able to tell before and after the jump if the chips are all in place. “They’re trying to do a really good job of controlling it this year,” Larson said. “They brought in a new equipment controller that, from what I understand, is doing a great job.” Hopefully, he said, these factors will help to ease any “crotch-gate” suspicions, and allow viewers to simply enjoy the feats of athleticism on display. “At the end of the day, it’s a sport where equipment does make a difference, so there’s always going to be stuff like this. And you just hope that it doesn’t get as far as it has,” Larson said. “And I hope that people watching the Olympics … just watch and enjoy. And if your kid wants to get into it, try not to mention the controversy, and bring them out to a local club.”