"It may well occur that our sport dies out" – Muricas News

For the 2026 Winter Video games, the beginning subject was lowered from 55 to 36 athletes. Double world champion Johannes Lamparter fears for the way forward for Nordic mixed.

If Johannes Lamparter have been 14 at the moment, he would severely query himself and possibly select a unique profession. As a particular jumper, possibly additionally as a cross-country skier, however he would hardly grow to be a Nordic mixed athlete. “After all you're taking the game that's Olympic,” says the 20-year-old double world champion in Nordic mixed.

And that’s precisely what it appears to be after the newest developments with the game of the Tyrolean. Whether or not Nordic Mixed, which has been a hard and fast merchandise on this system for the reason that first Winter Video games in 1924, will nonetheless be an Olympic occasion in 2030 should now be severely doubted.

The mixed athletes have been denied participation within the 2026 Winter Video games in Milano-Cortina. On the identical time, the gents got their rods within the window. The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) complained that their sport was not worldwide sufficient and hardly attracted any guests on the Olympics.

A primary drastic measure reveals that Nordic mixed is just not held in excessive esteem inside the Olympic household: the beginning subject has been enormously lowered for the upcoming 2026 video games. As a substitute of 55 athletes like final time in Beijing, solely 36 Nordic mixed athletes are allowed to compete in three and a half years – that’s a minus of 33 p.c.

Is the world experiencing the creeping loss of life of an Olympic sport? Will the 2026 video games probably be the final look of mixed athletes on the Olympics?

“In the intervening time we're all wanting a bit black,” says Johannes Lamparter. “It’s a slap within the face to see how the mix is seen inside the IOC. Now it may occur that the game dies out.”

APA / AFP / NTB / TERJE PEDERSEN / TERJE PEDERSEN

No perspective

Double world champion Johannes Lamparter is just not alone in his pessimism. Staff colleague Lukas Greiderer overtly admits that he's very frightened about the way forward for Nordic mixed. “That’s the way you destroy a sport. I’m fortunate that the 2026 video games, which will be the final time, coincide with the top of my profession. I particularly really feel sorry for the younger athletes,” says the Olympic bronze medalist in Beijing.

Given these bleak prospects, how can a younger athlete nonetheless be passionate about Nordic mixed? Many mixed athletes of the day after tomorrow may due to this fact quickly make the leap in direction of particular ski leaping.

“If I’m 17 at the moment and a Nordic athlete – what are my prospects?” asks Lukas Greiderer and offers the reply himself Olympic,” says Absamer. And Johannes Lamparter fears: “A number of skills can be misplaced consequently.”