Nordic combined stands at a pivotal moment ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where women remain barred from competing. U.S. athlete Annika Malacinski is spearheading efforts to highlight the sport's precarious future. The International Olympic Committee has cited a lack of universality for the exclusion, putting the entire discipline at risk.
Nordic combined, which merges cross-country skiing and ski jumping, will feature exclusively as a men's event when the Milano Cortina Games begin next month. This marks it as the sole Winter Olympic discipline without women's participation, despite women competing in their own World Championships and World Cup series since earlier developments in related sports—women's cross-country skiing joined in 1952, and ski jumping in 2014.
The IOC's 2022 decision rejected adding women's Nordic combined, pointing to insufficient global participation, while also flagging low interest in the men's event as a threat to its Olympic place. U.S. athlete Annika Malacinski emphasized the urgency: “We are now in a position where the whole sport is at risk. If you cannot offer men and women equal opportunities, you also risk losing your place in the Games entirely.” She warned that exclusion from the 2030 French Alps Olympics could lead to widespread funding cuts.
Athletes have protested the omission through symbolic actions, such as forming an 'X' with ski poles at starts to signify 'no eXception,' and Norwegian winner Gyda Westvold Hansen appearing with a drawn-on beard. Malacinski shared on social media: "We've pushed through so many barriers trying to make the Olympic Committee hear us. One of our strongest statements was standing together at the start line, raising our poles in an X."
Despite setbacks, optimism persists. Malacinski believes increased popularity could secure inclusion: "If the IOC sees that Nordic combined can be a more popular sport and that more people are watching it, then we will save it." Fellow American Alexa Brabec noted progress since 2022, including stronger leadership, higher competition levels, and more nations involved. "I think everyone is disappointed but working hard these last couple of years to improve the sport and keep it growing and proving that we deserve to be on the Olympic stage," she said. "I am positive and hopeful that they will include us going forward."
The coming Games will test the sport's viability amid these gender equity challenges.
