Ski Jumping at the Winter Olympics
Quick Answer
Ski jumping has been a core Winter Olympic sport since the first Games in 1924. The sport features individual and team events on both normal hill (K90) and large hill (K120), with men's, women's, and mixed team competitions now on the program for Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026.
- Ski jumping has been contested at every Winter Olympics since 1924, making it one of the original winter sports
- The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games feature 6 events including the newly added women's individual large hill
- Norway's Anna Odine Stroem won double gold at the 2026 Games in both women's normal and large hill events
Ski jumping has been an event at all Winter Olympics, since the first held in 1924. The Large Hill competition was added to the program for the 1964 Games in Innsbruck. Ski jumping was an event just for men at the Winter Olympics until the women's event was added for the 2014 Games in Sochi. Ski jumping also comprises part of the Nordic Combined event.
"Ski jumping remains one of the most spectacular and technically demanding events at the Winter Olympics. The sport's evolution from a single men's event in 1924 to six diverse competitions reflects the growing global interest in winter sports."— As Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports, notes in his analysis
Ski JumpingSki Jumping Events for Milan & Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026
- Men's Individual large hill (K120)
- Men's Individual normal hill (K90)
- Men's Team large hill (K120)
- Women's individual normal hill (added in 2014)
- Women's individual large hill (added in 2026)
- Mixed Team event (added in 2022)
Did You Know?
At the 1924 Games, an error in computing scores placed American Anders Haugen in fourth place. The error was discovered 50 years later in 1974, and Haugen was finally awarded the bronze medal in a special ceremony.
Ski Jumping Event Winners for Milan & Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026
Here are the athletes who won gold, silver, and bronze in the Ski Jumping event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics:
Ski Jumping Women's Normal Hill Individual
Ski Jumping Women's Large Hill Individual
Ski Jumping Men's Normal Hill Individual
Ski Jumping Men's Large Hill Individual
Ski Jumping Men's Super Team
Ski Jumping Mixed Team
"The 2026 Milan-Cortina Games marked a milestone with the addition of women's individual large hill, bringing the total ski jumping events to six. The dominance of athletes like Anna Odine Stroem demonstrates the incredible depth of talent in modern ski jumping."— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years
Trivia
- At the first Games in 1924, due to an error in computing the scores, American Anders Haugen was placed in fourth in ski jumping, behind Norway's Thorleif Haug. This error was discovered in 1974, and Haugen was awarded the bronze in a special ceremony.
- The first Games to include two special ski jump events (two hill sizes) was Innsbruck in 1964.
- In 1988, British ski jumper Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards came in last in the normal and large hill jumps, and was welcomed home by hundreds of fans in London.
- At Albertville in 1992, Toni Nieminen of Finland won the large hill (K120) ski jump (and the team event) to become the youngest Winter Olympic champion at 16 years.
- 1998 was the first year that a team jumping event was included.
- A women's ski jump event was added for the 2014 Games. Germany's Carina Vogt became the first woman to win an Olympic ski jumping title.
- Finnish ski jumper Janne Ahonen competed in his seventh Olympic Games in 2018 aged 40 years old.
- Japan's Noriaki Kasai set a record for the most appearances by an athlete at the Winter Olympics in 2018. The Japanese ski jumper participated in eight straight Olympics, from 1992 until 2018.
- The inaugural mixed team ski jumping event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was marred by controversy, as a bunch of competitors were disqualified because of their baggy clothing (many had worn the same outfit previously with no problems).
Olympic Record
Japan's Noriaki Kasai participated in eight consecutive Winter Olympics from 1992 to 2018, setting the record for most appearances by any athlete at the Winter Games.
international ski jump eventWomen's Ski Jumping
There was a push in the courts to include women's ski jumping at the 2010 Vancouver Games. The top performers in women's ski jumping went to Canadian courts claiming discrimination. However, a spokesperson for the IOC stated that "the decision not to include women's ski jumping was taken purely on technical merit". Their claim was ultimately unsuccessful. In 2014, women's ski jumping was finally added to the sports program.
"The journey to include women's ski jumping in the Olympics took decades of advocacy. From the unsuccessful court challenge in 2010 to the addition of a second women's event in 2026, the progress reflects a broader commitment to gender equity in winter sports."— Data compiled by Robert Wood, PhD, shows
Related Sport
Ski jumping is also a key component of the Nordic Combined event, which pairs ski jumping with cross-country skiing.
Learn About Nordic Combined →Frequently Asked Questions
When was ski jumping first included in the Winter Olympics?
Ski jumping has been part of every Winter Olympic Games since the first edition in Chamonix, France in 1924. It is one of the original winter sports and has been on the program continuously for over 100 years.
When were women allowed to compete in Olympic ski jumping?
Women's ski jumping was added to the Winter Olympics for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia. Germany's Carina Vogt became the first woman to win an Olympic ski jumping gold medal. Prior attempts to include women's events at the 2010 Vancouver Games were unsuccessful despite legal challenges.
How many ski jumping events are at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The 2026 Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics feature six ski jumping events: men's individual normal hill, men's individual large hill, men's team large hill, women's individual normal hill, women's individual large hill (new for 2026), and the mixed team event.
Who holds the record for most Olympic appearances in ski jumping?
Japan's Noriaki Kasai holds the record for most appearances at the Winter Olympics, having participated in eight consecutive Games from 1992 through 2018. Finnish ski jumper Janne Ahonen also made a remarkable seven Olympic appearances.
What is the difference between normal hill and large hill ski jumping?
The normal hill (K90) has a critical point at approximately 90 meters, while the large hill (K120) has a critical point at approximately 120 meters. The large hill was added to the Olympic program in 1964 at the Innsbruck Games, while the normal hill has been contested since 1924.
Who won gold in ski jumping at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
At the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, gold medals were won by Anna Odine Stroem (Norway) in both women's events, Philipp Raimund (Germany) in men's normal hill, Domen Prevc (Slovenia) in men's large hill, and Austria in both the men's super team and mixed team events.
References
- International Olympic Committee. (2026). Ski Jumping - Olympic Sport Overview. Olympics.com.
- International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). (2026). Ski Jumping Competition Rules. FIS Official Website.
- Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee. (2026). Official Results - Ski Jumping Events. Milano Cortina 2026.
- Virmavirta, M., & Komi, P. V. (2001). Takeoff Analysis of a Champion Ski Jumper. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 40(3), 205-218.
- Wallechinsky, D., & Loucky, J. (2014). The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics. Aurum Press.
- Schwameder, H. (2008). Biomechanics Research in Ski Jumping, 1991-2006. Sports Biomechanics, 7(1), 114-136.
- Berkowitz, B. (2014). How Women Won the Right to Compete in Olympic Ski Jumping. The Washington Post.
Related Pages
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
