US Nordic combined athlete Annika Malacinski has issued an Instagram following the IOC's decision to ban women from Winter Olympics sport.

The sport has been a part of the Olympics since the first Winter Games in 1924. It’s a combination of the two main Nordic events: cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Athletes

Austrian Johannes Lamparter and brother duos Jens and Einaar Luraas Oftebro of Norway and Thomas and Stefan Rettenegger of Austria headline Nordic combined podium contenders at Milan Cortina 2026.

Female athletes competing in Nordic combined plan to stage a protest Friday over the lack of a women's event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Nordic combined has been part of every Winter Games program since 1924, but it’s facing existential questions stemming from participation numbers and gender equity.

Eau Claire native Ben Loomis competes in the Nordic Combine Normal Hill event.

The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina is being hailed as a significant milestone for gender equality, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcing that women will comprise 47% of the athletes.

Nordic combined is one of the 16 original Winter Olympics events, dating back to the Games’ origins in 1924 in Chamonix, France. It’s also the only winter sport to never allow women to compete at the Games.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina will bring together athletes from around the world to compete on ice and snow. Fans will see fast races, high jumps, and skill-based events across different venues.