Photo/Illutration Sara Takanashi, left, leaves the ski jumping mixed event venue on Feb. 7 along with teammate Yuki Ito. (Nobuo Fujiwara)

Sara Takanashi took to social media to apologize to her teammates and fans over a suit violation that kept the Japanese ski jumping mixed event team off the medal podium at the Beijing Olympics.

Takanashi, 25, posted a message on Feb. 8 to her Instagram account, a day after her outstanding first jump the day before was thrown out and the Japanese team finished fourth. 

Accompanying the message was a blackened photo.

Takanashi's message said, “I express my deepest apology for my disqualification in the ski jumping mixed event that took away any chance for a medal by my teammates and which led to the disappointment among those who have cheered for our team as well as those who have supported us for so long.”

She added that her disqualification had changed the lives of those affected and that she would have to consider her own future in the sport.

Takanashi’s first jump in the mixed team event was annulled because her uniform, which she had worn in the women's normal hill ski jumping competition on Feb. 5, was found to be excessively loose in the thigh area this time.

Under the rules, loose clothing is prohibited as it is deemed that it could provide an aerodynamic lift advantage.

Female jumpers on the German and Austrian teams also had jumps disqualified during the mixed event competition due to suit violations. 

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