Nordic combined
International Ski and Snowboard FederationAbout Nordic combined
Nordic combined, an Olympic discipline since 1924, is a unique blend of cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Here is everything you need to know about the Nordic combined competition at Milano Cortina 2026.
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Competition events
The Nordic combined is a winter sport where competitors race in two different Nordic skiing disciplines: cross-country skiing and ski jumping. The competitions at Milano Cortina 2026 will consist of three men's events:
"Gundersen" refers to the "Gundersen method", a scoring system for ski jumping developed by the Norwegian athlete Gunder Gundersen. The score for the ski jumping event is determined by the distance of the jump (2 points per metre for the normal hill, 1.8 points per metre for the large hill) and style (formally scored from 1 to 20, but no style score is typically lower than 7). The starting order for the cross-country race is determined by the ski jumping results: the jump points are converted into time penalties. The conversion of points into time penalties depends on the type of race: for example, in the individual competition, 15 points = 1 minute. The winner of the jump starts first in the cross-country race. The first athlete to cross the finish line in the cross-country race is the winner. In 2026, the Nordic combined races will be held in Val di Fiemme region: cross-country skiing in Tesero and ski jumping in Predazzo.
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Nordic Combined | Sport Explainers | Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
Step into each and every sport with confidence at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Olympic history
Nordic combined has been a part of the Olympic programme since the first Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924, debuting with the men's individual event on the normal hill. Team competitions were added at Calgary 1988. The most recent addition to the Olympic competition is the large hill event, which was introduced at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
Basic rules
The individual competition consists of a ski jump and a 10-km cross-country race. The two events differ by the hill used (normal or large), while the cross-country distance remains the same.
In the team competition, two athletes from each NOC compete. Each jump from the large hill and the total team score determines the starting order for the 2x7.5km cross-country relay. The distance jumped is converted into seconds of advantage in the starting order.
Fun facts about Italian champions
Alessandro Pittin
Alessandro Pittin is the only Italian who has won a medal in Nordic combined at the Olympics. He won the bronze medal at Vancouver 2010 in the individual normal hill event.
Predazzo
Predazzo is the beating heart of sports in the Val di Fiemme. Here, you can absorb the captivating history of Nordic skiing.
Frequently asked questions
At the top of the podium in the Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics is German athlete Eric Frenzel with seven medals, including three golds, two silvers and two bronzes.
Norway has won the most Olympic medals in Nordic combined skiing with 35 medals (15 gold, 12 silver and 8 bronze). Germany is in second place with 16 medals (6 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze) and Finland is close behind with 14 medals (4 gold, 8 silver and 2 bronze).
Gunder Gundersen is a former Norwegian athlete and was technical director of the individual Nordic combined at the Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid 1980.
At Milano Cortina 2026 the Nordic combined events will be held in Val di Fiemme region: in Tesero for cross-country skiing and in Predazzo for ski jumping.
