Gyda Westvold Hansen switched sports to chase the Olympics: “I have a bit of heartbreak”

Gyda Westvold Hansen, long used to being the favorite whenever she competes, admits that changing sports has been heavy. The multiple world champion in Nordic combined says she feels “a bit of heartbreak” at no longer being a combined athlete.

While the Nordic combined national championships took place at Beitostølen, Westvold Hansen was in Lillehammer for the women’s ski jumping World Cup opener. She explains that the pressure she has put on herself has been significant and that the last few days have been difficult.

She switched from Nordic combined to ski jumping this summer to pursue her Olympic dream, since women’s Nordic combined is not on the Milan–Cortina 2026 program. In her World Cup debut as a special jumper, the 23‑year‑old reached 99.4 meters and failed to qualify for the final round. She called the result disappointing but fair, noting that her performance did not merit advancement.

Westvold Hansen reflects on the unfamiliar feeling of no longer being at the top. As a combined athlete, she has five World Championship golds and has been among the best since age 16. Now she is near the bottom of the list, which she says may ultimately be good for her development: she plans to take what she can from the experience and keep working.

NRK ski jumping expert Johan Remen Evensen says moving from being the best in one discipline to starting over lower on the ladder is challenging but valuable. He believes she can learn a lot, especially on the mental side—searching for improvements in a new way compared with when one wins all the time. He praises her decision as courageous, emphasizing that ski jumping demands even sharper equipment regulations, technique, and more specialized physical preparation, which will take time.

Regarding Olympic qualification, Westvold Hansen acknowledges Norway’s depth and that many athletes are competing for limited spots, so she must deliver strong jumps in the coming weeks. Evensen thinks she has the potential to become a very good ski jumper, though achieving world‑leading level within a single year is uncertain.

Despite the rocky start and mixed emotions about leaving Nordic combined, Westvold Hansen is convinced she made the right choice. She says she would have regretted not trying and aims to relax her shoulders and enjoy the hill going forward.