Nordic Combined 2022 - 2024 Discussion Thread

[Totallympics 80]

Edited August 18, 2024 by Sindo

[NearPup 3,614]

There are rumors that Nordic Combined could be dropped from the Olympics as soon as 2026, per ATR.

[Olympian1010 8,272]

7 minutes ago, NearPup said:

There are rumors that Nordic Combined could be dropped from the Olympics as soon as 2026, per ATR.

Here’s a link to the article: https://www.infobae.com/aroundtherings/articles/2022/06/15/is-nordic-combined-in-jeopardy/

[intoronto 6,599]

If the IOC drops the sport, it will be q unilateral decision. The FIS did not discuss this at all at their recently concluded congress. 

 

The quotas dropped from NC would allow Ski mountaineering to be held with no other sports needing quota cuts.

[NearPup 3,614]

Part of me wonders if this is being floated to soften the blow when / if the IOC cuts the number of men’s nordic combined quotas in half.

[dcro 10,210]

2 hours ago, NearPup said:

Part of me wonders if this is being floated to soften the blow when / if the IOC cuts the number of men’s nordic combined quotas in half.

I hope not honestly. It would mean the IOC is taking the page right of the Putin's "Special Operation" book. 

[heywoodu 16,140]

5 hours ago, NearPup said:

There are rumors that Nordic Combined could be dropped from the Olympics as soon as 2026, per ATR.

That would be such insane bullshit.

[George_D 1,474]

 

[JonPhi 250]

Unfortunately, the Nordic combinations is going downhill. If you consider that 10-15 years ago there were still very strong teams or athletes from the USA, France, Italy or Finland.
USA and Italy have completely disappeared from the scene. And France and Finland have if at all single good results times by Herola or Muhlethaler for example. But far away from what was once. The French don't even have a coach at the moment, because the combination hardly plays a role in the federation and not much money for a coach has been calculated in.
In front, there are actually only Norwegians, Germans, Austrians and possibly Japanese. But there is not much to see of internationality. No athletes from North America or the Eastern states who are competitive and in addition the ever decreasing competition from athletes from Central Europe such as France or Italy.
In a certain way, one can question whether something is not going wrong in the combination and one should question the system and whether it makes sense to continue in this way.

[Monzanator 4,825]

Germany and Austria are like the only two nations that seem to care about NC. Norway still has success due to the number of cross country skiers available so there will always be someone breaking through. However in the last 10-15 years cc skiers who don't have enough success in the sport either choose switching to biathlon or retirement outright. NC as the back-up option became less popular.

 

Finland has declined in cross country in general and likewise Italy. One might argue the rise of freestyle skiing has contributed to that since both these nations are doing pretty well there.

 

USA has completely tailed off, women's ski jumping is nowhere compared to their dominance from late 00s and early 10s. Men's SJ was poor for ages but at least they had the NC success until recently. Once again you might say the freestyle skiing has drained the talent pool given how technical and expensive the ski jumping part of the sport is.

 

Czech Republic & Poland are too poor to offer a replacement level. Hell, Czech Republic's ski jumping has regressed badly and nobody, I mean nobody cares about NC in Poland. When we entered a relay that finished 8th in Seefeld WCh there was hope the sport might be revived but our federation quickly buried it and kept all the money in ski jumping like they do for the last 20 years. It spelled the funeral of any NC hopes we have.