Nordic Combined Faces Olympic Uncertainty as IOC Weighs Axing Event Rather Than Expanding It to Women

Nordic Combined has been part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1924, one of its founding disciplines, and is widely regarded as one of the most physically demanding events in elite sport.

• Having excluded women from the last two Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) now faces growing scrutiny over whether Nordic Combined will be removed from the programme rather than opened to female athletes.

• One of the founding Winter Olympic sports in 1924, Nordic Combined remains one of the most demanding disciplines, yet women are still excluded despite competing globally at World Cup and World Championship level.

• The IOC now faces a clear decision ahead of the 2030 Winter Olympics: modernise the sport through inclusion, or risk removing it entirely from the Olympic programme.

• The sport already meets all structural requirements for inclusion, with shared venues, courses and competition systems in place at no additional cost.

More than a century on, its place within the Olympic programme is under active review, with the IOC assessing which sports align with the long-term direction, scale and commercial realities of the Winter Games.

At the centre of that review is whether Nordic Combined evolves to reflect the full depth of the sport, or falls out of step with the wider Olympic movement.

“We are already competing at the highest level everywhere except the Olympics. The question now is why the Olympics are the last place we are not allowed to be,” said Annika Malacinski.

“If the Olympics are about the best athletes and the toughest challenges, then Nordic Combined should be evolving, not facing uncertainty,” said Ilkka Herola.

While firmly established at World Cup, World Championship and Youth Olympic level, Nordic Combined remains the only Winter Olympic discipline without female competition at Games level. Women already compete internationally across all tiers of the sport, demonstrating both depth and readiness.

Annika Malacinski, Nordic Combined skier, said: “We are proving every season that this sport is competitive, global and growing. The Olympics should reflect that reality. Until women are included, the Games will only ever tell half the story.”

The sport itself presents few barriers to change. Nordic Combined already operates with fully shared infrastructure, using the same ski jumping hills and cross-country courses for all athletes. Any expansion of the Olympic format could be delivered without additional venues or significant cost.

Beyond infrastructure, the issue is one of growth and relevance. Excluding women slows participation, limits global reach and weakens long-term development at a time when the IOC is placing increasing emphasis on universality, audience growth and commercial sustainability. Opening Nordic Combined to women would broaden the athlete base, increase diversity across competing nations, and strengthen its appeal to broadcasters and fans, particularly as media rights expand across Europe and the United States.

Nordic Combined uniquely combines two contrasting disciplines – ski jumping and cross-country skiing – testing both explosive power and endurance in a single format. This balance of extremes has long defined it as one of the most complete tests of athletic ability in Olympic sport.

Ilkka Herola, Finnish Nordic Combined skier, added,“This sport has always been about pushing limits. It combines two completely different demands, and that is what makes it special. The focus now should be on making sure it continues to move forward, not stand still while the rest of the Olympic programme evolves.”

With the IOC expected to make decisions on the future composition of the Winter Games, Nordic Combined now faces a defining moment, open its doors to women, or risk losing its place on the Olympic programme altogether.

For athletes and stakeholders, the message is clear, the sport is ready, the system is in place, and the next move belongs to the IOC.