Nordic combined crowned its first medalists on Wednesday as the fight over the sport's Olympic future rages on.

Twice Olympic champion Vinzenz Geiger said he had a very positive conversation with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry in view of the future of Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics.

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.

Nordic combined has reached a critical juncture ahead of the Milano Cortina Games, with U.S. athlete Annika Malacinski among those leading a push to draw attention to the sport’s uncertain future as women remain excluded from the Olympic programme.

Wednesday will see another nine medals awarded at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, including the men's Super-G; men's Nordic combined; women's moguls; women's biathlon 15km; men's speed skating 1000m;