Steve Gann
Sandra 12010 Winter Olympics Guide: Nordic Combined
February 18th 2010 16:17
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2010 Winter Olympics Guide: Nordic Combined
This is the 10th in a 15 part series on the sports of the winter games.
Nordic combined is an Olympic sport that combines cross country skiing with ski jumping. It has been part of the Winter Olympic since the first games in 1924. There will be three medal events this year taking place from February 14th thru the 25th. Medals will be awarded in individual normal and large hill and team competitions. Johnny Spillane made history this year by becoming the first American to win a medal in a sport long dominated by Norway.
History:
While Norwegian soldiers are known to have been competing in Nordic skiing since the 18th century, the first major competition in Nordic combined was held in 1892 in Oslo at the first Holmenkollen Ski Festival, an event still held annually. In Norway, popularity of the Holmenkollen, and Nordic combined in general, was great, and in fact separate ski jumping events weren't held at Holmenkollen until 1933. It is still held in all Winter Olympics. There is currently no women's competition sanctioned by the FIS
The sport was included at the 1924 Winter Olympics, and has been on the programme ever since. World Championships have been held since 1925.
Traditionally, Norway has always delivered top athletes in the sport, but Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, and the United States are also among the top nations in the Nordic combined. As of 2009, top athletes in the sport include current World Champions Todd Lodwick and Bill Demong, as well as silver medal winning Jan Schmid.
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