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Women's Olympic Dream Denied by Gender in Nordic Combined
11 Feb
Summary
- Nordic combined, a ski discipline, is the only Olympic event excluding women.
- Women's event proposals for 2026 and Beijing Olympics were denied.
- IOC cites low participation and viewership as reasons for exclusion.
Nordic combined, a staple of the Winter Olympics since 1924, is controversially the only discipline still exclusively for men. American athlete Annika Malacinski, 24, highlighted her Olympic dream being denied due to her gender rather than athletic ability. This exclusion persists despite active campaigning and formal proposals to include a women's event in the 2026 Winter Games and previously for Beijing.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated the sport's inclusion is 'in question overall,' pointing to low global participation and viewership as key concerns. This year's men's event in Italy saw a decrease in athletes compared to Beijing. An IOC spokesperson indicated that for the 2030 French Alps Games, data would be assessed, with a possibility of women's participation if Nordic combined remains an Olympic sport.
