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Nordic Combined Athletes Plan Protest for Olympic Inclusion

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. athletes-plan-protest-for-olympic-inclusion.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, January 28th 2026 at 9:25 GMT by Fox News
      Locales: NORWAY, AUSTRIA, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND

Trondheim, Norway - January 28th, 2026 - Female Nordic combined athletes are preparing for a significant protest during the upcoming Nordic World Championships in Trondheim, Norway, in a desperate attempt to finally gain inclusion in the Winter Olympic Games. The athletes, who have been excluded from the Games since 1989, argue that they consistently meet the necessary criteria for participation, yet face continued resistance rooted in historical precedent and what they perceive as a lack of genuine support from the International Ski Federation (FIS).

The sport of Nordic combined, demanding both precision ski jumping and endurance cross-country skiing, presents a unique athletic challenge. For decades, however, this challenge has been reserved exclusively for men at the Olympic level. Leading voices within the women's Nordic combined community are now voicing their frustration, characterizing the situation as fundamentally unfair and a barrier to the growth of the sport.

"It's so messed up," stated Gyda Westvik Hansen, a member of the Norwegian national team and a vocal advocate for inclusion. "It's just ridiculous. We've been fighting this for so long. We deserve to be there." Hansen's sentiment is echoed throughout the international community of female Nordic combined athletes, who have dedicated years to training and competing, often with limited resources and recognition.

The core argument centers around the FIS's stated criteria for Olympic inclusion. The federation maintains that the women's event doesn't currently meet the threshold for participation, citing concerns about the quality and sustainability of the sport. However, athletes vehemently dispute this claim. Erika Kynning, another prominent Norwegian athlete and spokesperson for the movement, explains, "We've had 13 nations participating in women's Nordic combined competitions for years, which is well above the requirement. The lack of inclusion is purely based on a historical decision made decades ago."

This historical decision, made in 1989, initially excluded women from the event. While other winter sports have seen expanded opportunities for female athletes, Nordic combined remains a notable exception. The athletes allege that the FIS has not actively worked to address this disparity or to foster the growth of the women's side of the sport. "If they were genuinely interested in promoting women's Nordic combined, they would have done more to support and grow the sport over the years," Kynning argued, suggesting a lack of investment in infrastructure, coaching, and promotional opportunities for female athletes.

The planned protest during the World Championships aims to amplify the athletes' voices and put direct pressure on the FIS to reconsider its stance. Details of the protest remain tightly guarded, but organizers promise a visible and impactful demonstration intended to raise global awareness of the issue. They hope to capture the attention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and demonstrate the widespread support for women's Nordic combined.

Beyond the immediate goal of Olympic inclusion, the athletes also hope to inspire future generations of female athletes to pursue Nordic combined. They believe that Olympic recognition would be a catalyst for increased participation, funding, and media coverage, creating a more sustainable and equitable future for the sport. The current lack of visibility, they contend, creates a self-perpetuating cycle where limited opportunities discourage participation, which is then used as justification for continued exclusion.

"We're not asking for anything special," Hansen emphasized. "We've shown that we can compete and that our sport is just as exciting and engaging as the men's." The athletes are confident that if given the opportunity, they can showcase their skills and captivate audiences worldwide. The coming weeks promise to be a pivotal moment for the future of women's Nordic combined, as these determined athletes prepare to fight for their rightful place on the Olympic stage. They have pledged to continue their fight relentlessly until their voices are finally heard and their dreams realized.