Gay ski jumper Daniela Iraschko-Stolz: 'Russian propaganda law exaggerated'

Austrian athlete Daniela Iraschko-Stolz has said that the reaction surrounding a Russian law banning homosexual propaganda has been exaggerated.

The ski jumper, who married her female partner last year, insists that she has encountered no problem in Sochi so far.

When asked whether she was worried about the law, Iraschko-Stolz told reporters: "No, on the contrary, I think everything is being blown up bigger than it is. I had a very good welcome like every other athlete. There were absolutely no problems.

"Naturally you have to look at it from a different point of view and always be critical, but especially in my situation, I don't want to talk too much about it.

"I only want to focus on sports and I think if you're tolerant towards everyone else, they treat you the same way and it gives you a lot of joy. I think you can make a statement by jumping well."

The 30-year-old is one of the leading contenders for a medal in Tuesday's hill event at the 2014 Sochi Games.