Ski jumping: everything you need to know about the mixed Olympic format
In its quest for parity, the International Olympic Committee has made mixed events one of its priorities. While figure skating has offered pairs events since their introduction in 1908 (at the Summer Olympics) and ice dancing since 1976, formats that include men and women have multiplied at the Games in other disciplines since Sochi 2014.
That year, the biathlon and luge inaugurated their mixed relays. Curling did the same in Pyeongchang 2018, short-track, snowboard cross and freestyle jumping in Beijing 2022, as will ski-mountaineering (a new sport) and skeleton in Milan/Cortina in 2026. For ski jumping, the mixed team competition has been added to the programme for 2022. The formula used in China has been extended to Italy, for the event organised in Predazzo. It is gradually becoming part of the world calendar, with 10 World Cup or World Championship competitions organised since the previous Games.
Two jumps per athlete
On normal springboard, four competitors per team are selected: two men and two women. If a nation only has one man and two women qualified for the special jump, it can enter a combined team. This brings to 13 the number of nations potentially able to field a quartet at the 2026 Olympic Games, compared with 10 at the previous event.
The order alternates by gender: the first woman in each team starts, then the first man, before the second woman and finally the second man. Race numbers are allocated according to the world ranking. The points of the four competitors are added together, and the top 8 qualify for the final round, which is contested on the same principle. The only difference is that the starting order follows the ranking from the first round. The eight jumps made during the competition are then added together, and the three best totals are awarded medals.
