Strength and skill combine in unique test

Nordic combined features two of the oldest forms of skiing, with its unique mix of cross-country and ski jumping originating in Scandinavia in the 19th century.

Bringing together the best of the two disciplines, Nordic combined requires athletes to display two very different sets of attributes: explosiveness and strength for takeoff in ski jumping, and speed and endurance for cross-country skiing.

As is suggested in the name, the sport originated in Norway, and that is also the country which has dominated the Olympic competition, with 31 medals in total-17 ahead of nearest challenger Germany.

For now, Nordic combined remains a men-only sport at the Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee executive board considered an application in 2018 that would have allowed women to compete in Nordic combined at the Beijing Games. After discussions with the International Ski Federation, the application was denied.

In June, the IOC executive board is expected to decide on an application to give women the chance to compete for Olympic medals in Nordic combined at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The first Nordic combined World Cup competition for women was held in December 2020, so hopefully people will be able to see women compete at the 2026 Games.

At Beijing 2022, Nordic combined features three medal events for men: Individual Gundersen Normal Hill/10km, Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km and Team Gundersen Large Hill/4x5km.

The most decorated athlete in the sport's Olympic history is Austria's Felix Gottwald, who has seven medals including three golds. However, Eric Frenzel could overtake that record in Beijing after the German bagged two gold medals in the normal hill and team events at Pyeongchang 2018.

Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber, who has been in fine form this season, looks set to challenge Frenzel. Japan's Akito Watabe, who has finished second behind Frenzel at each of the last two Games, also has his sights set on Olympic gold.

Austria's Johannes Lamparter became the youngest world champion in 32 years recently by winning the large hill competition and will be hoping to repeat the trick in Beijing. After being introduced to ski jumping by his cousin, Lamparter was remarkably only 6 years old when he completed his first jumps on the hill.