Resistance is being organized in the world of Nordic combined sports. In Norway, it takes on an unexpected appearance. Gyda Westvold Hansen, the first female world champion in the discipline, took advantage of a national competition organized last weekend to protest against the absence of an Olympic event for girls. She started the race with her face covered in a beard drawn with a felt-tip pen (photo above). With other competitors, she also formed an X by raising her poles on the starting line. “ We think it's absurd that you have to look like this or have a beard to be allowed to compete in the Olympics, she then explained to the Norwegian television channel NRK. Integrating the Winter Games program would be so important to attract young girls and make them want to practice our sport.. » Nordic combined is the only sport without a women's event at the Olympic Games. The IOC decided not to add it to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, citing the lack of universality of the discipline among women. According to the Olympic body, only one world championship has been organized to date, with 10 nations represented and a podium occupied by athletes from the same country, Norway. At the upcoming Nordic World Ski Championships, a mixed team event will be added for the first time, in addition to the women's competition.
