Nordic combined crowned its first medalists on Wednesday as the fight over the sport's Olympic future rages on.

Twice Olympic champion Vinzenz Geiger said he had a very positive conversation with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry in view of the future of Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics.

Eero Hirvonen wins bronze in the Nordic combined at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, securing Finland’s first medal of the Games. The medal was decided on the final climb in Val di Fiemme. Suvi Minkkinen finished 12th in the women’s 15km biathlon after two penalties.

The sport has been a part of the Olympics since the first Winter Games in 1924. It’s a combination of the two main Nordic events: cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Athletes

Norway's Jens Lurås Oftebro claimed gold in the Nordic combined skiing normal hill/10 kilometres event on Wednesday amid hopes of a good promotion of the endangered Olympic sport. Having started the cross country pursuit in seventh place after a morning ski jump,

Austrian Johannes Lamparter and brother duos Jens and Einaar Luraas Oftebro of Norway and Thomas and Stefan Rettenegger of Austria headline Nordic combined podium contenders at Milan Cortina 2026.

Top: Eau Claire native Ben Loomis, a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, brakes in the finish area on Wednesday after his competition round jump during the Nordic Combined event at t