The Future of Nordic Combined: A Crossroads for Olympic Inclusion and Gender Parity
Nordic Combined remains the sole sport exclusively for men within the Winter Olympics program. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently evaluating the sport's continuation beyond the 2026 Games, citing concerns over viewership and participant diversity. This assessment occurs amidst ongoing efforts and advocacy for the inclusion of women's events and the sport's overall retention in the Olympic program.
Current Status of Nordic Combined
Nordic Combined is an original Winter Olympic discipline, first included in 1924. It holds the unique distinction of being the only sport in the Olympic program without female participation. The sport integrates two distinct disciplines: ski jumping and cross-country skiing, where points from an initial ski jump determine a time advantage for the subsequent cross-country race.
Historical Context and Gender Exclusion
The sport's roots trace back to Norway in 1892. Historically, the exclusion of women was linked to its militaristic origins and past beliefs that ski jumping was medically inappropriate for women. Women were barred from competitive ski jumping until the early 2000s.
Women's ski jumping was later included in the Olympics in 2014, with large hill events added for 2026. This has subsequently influenced the development of women's Nordic Combined. The 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for northern Italy, are projected to achieve 47% female participation with a record 50 women's events, while the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics achieved full gender parity.
IOC's Position and Rationale
The IOC has previously denied the inclusion of women's Nordic Combined for both the 2022 and 2026 Winter Games. For the 2026 decision, the IOC cited low audience numbers and limited participation from various countries for the men's event.
The IOC stated the sport "wasn't applicable in the women's category."
Concerns have been expressed by the IOC's executive board regarding the sport's low audience numbers during recent Games and limited diversity among medal-winning nations. An IOC spokesperson noted that in recent Winter Olympics, 27 Nordic Combined medals were awarded to athletes from only four countries, and the discipline recorded the lowest audience numbers. The number of male quota spots for the sport has been reduced from 55 to 36 for the upcoming Games.
The IOC emphasizes that the sport's future inclusion depends on increased athlete and country participation, as well as overall popularity across broadcast, digital, and general public interest.
Advocacy and Growth in Women's Nordic Combined
Despite past exclusions, women's events have been introduced at other competitive levels:
- 2020: Women's events added to the World Cup circuit and Youth Winter Olympic Games.
- 2021: Women's events added to the World Championships.
Approximately 200 women from 24 countries are registered to compete in Nordic Combined. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) race director has described Nordic Combined as a sustainable discipline, utilizing existing venues and equipment. A Nielsen Sports survey indicated a 25% increase in viewership for women's Nordic Combined during the FIS World Cup 2024-2025 season.
Advocacy efforts for inclusion have included an online petition gathering tens of thousands of signatures, and a letter sent to the IOC by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.
Athlete Perspectives
U.S. Nordic Combined skier Annika Malacinski, a top-ranked athlete, is unable to compete at the Winter Olympics due to the sport's female exclusion.
Annika Malacinski stated she has been training for five years for her sport and highlighted the disparity where her male counterparts can compete while female athletes cannot.
Another U.S. competitor, Tara Geraghty-Moats, noted that agents indicated significant earning potential if the sport were Olympic.
Proponents of women's inclusion argue that excluding women impedes the sport's growth and diverse participation, particularly for younger female athletes. They also suggest that some recent viewership data may have been influenced by unfavorable time zones during Games held in Asia. Malacinski further contends that Nordic Combined's diversity challenges are not unique among niche winter sports, and points to increased diversity among medalists in recent World Championships as a counterpoint to the IOC's rationale for potential removal.
Future of Nordic Combined in the Olympics
The IOC plans a full evaluation of Nordic Combined after the 2026 Olympics to make a decision on its inclusion for both men and women in the 2030 Games. The International Ski Federation (FIS) has committed to pursuing gender parity for the 2030 Games.
The outcome of the IOC's decision, expected in June, will determine if the sport gains Olympic status for women or if the entire discipline faces removal from the Olympic program for all athletes.