Women’s Nordic Combined is growing rapidly, but it’s still not included in the 2026 Olympic program. How do you keep the athletes motivated despite this disappointment?
I witnessed a similar journey with the women’s ski jumping team—it wasn’t an easy path, but today they are an integral part of the Olympic program. Of course, every Nordic Combined athlete would love to compete for Olympic medals in the next season, and it’s frustrating that this won’t be the case in 2026. Still, I don’t see it as a setback.
The sport has made incredible progress in a short time—the establishment of a World Cup series speaks volumes about its potential. Day-to-day, it’s about focusing on the opportunities. Our athletes are shaping the future of this discipline. That comes with responsibility, but more importantly, it’s a powerful source of motivation. Those who stick with it now are true pioneers.
The past season marked a big step forward for the women’s field—not only with the first large hill World Cup in Oslo but also with standout performances by Lisa Hirner and Annalena Slamik. How do you assess the current level of the team and its potential?
The large hill World Cup in Oslo sent a strong message about the evolution of the discipline. The performances of our athletes clearly show the strength and promise of our team. The current level is already very good, but we still have untapped potential. Our goal is to unlock that potential and continue developing each athlete’s performance step by step.