Armbruster: Excluding women from Nordic combined is a “no‑go”

German Nordic combined athlete Nathalie Armbruster says it is a “no‑go” to exclude women from the Olympic program in her sport. Women’s Nordic combined will not be contested at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, a decision that frustrates athletes and raises fears about the discipline’s future on the Olympic program.

Armbruster, who won the overall World Cup at age 19 while finishing high school, says it will be painful to watch the Games from home in February. She argues that in the 21st century excluding women is simply unfair.

Since women were first allowed to compete in Nordic combined in 2020, the International Ski Federation (FIS) has implemented reforms—shorter distances, tighter formats, and a mixed relay—to make events more dynamic. “We’ve developed a lot in recent years; the races are much more exciting,” said teammate Julian Schmid. Double Olympic champion Johannes Rydzek added that it “breaks his heart,” noting the women work just as hard as the men.

The IOC, which cited the discipline’s youth and limited development when it rejected women’s events for 2026, now says it wants to see “clear development” by 2030 and gender equality across the program. One possible outcome, however, is that instead of adding women’s events, the IOC could remove Nordic combined entirely from the Olympics.

Armbruster says athletes and FIS have presented numerous proposals to the IOC, which plans to collect data during the 2026 Games and decide afterward. The uncertainty is unsettling: beyond elite athletes, Schmid warns it could harm youth pathways. Armbruster fears a negative IOC verdict could trigger a chain reaction—fewer World Cups, reduced federation and governmental support, and damage to the German Ski Association’s plans. Nordic combined has been on the Olympic program since 1924; whether it remains so will be decided next year.

Source: BR24Sport (07 Nov 2025).