There were historic scenes that unfolded in the sunshine in Holmenkollen on Saturday.
Never before have ladies been allowed to compete in Nordic combined on the classic ski arena, but now was the time.
The sport, where competitors compete in ski jumping and cross-country skiing, was for a long time only for men. Only in 2020 did the World Cup for ladies start and the following year women were allowed to compete in the WC.
But at the Olympic Games, women are still stopped from competing in the Nordic combination. This summer, the International Olympic Committee made the decision to allow only men to participate in the event.
Nordic combined is thus the only sport in the Winter Olympics where the ladies are stopped and only men are allowed to compete.
Maja Dahlqvist’s anger: “A matter of course”
The announcement sparked an outcry within the sport. Over 15,000 people signed a petition to overturn the decision.
In the Norwegian premiere in Beitostölen in November, world champion Gyda Westvold Hansen competed in a painted beard to show her displeasure.
The protest received support from Sweden.
– If it is a sport that is included in the Olympics, it must be open to both women and men. It is a matter of course, said Maja Dahlqvist to Expressen.
The protest in Norway: “We have not given up”
And when women were allowed to compete in Holmenkollen for the first time, it was time for a new protest.
Before the starting shot, all competitors raised their poles in an X formation and several of the riders had painted beards and mustaches on their faces.
– We felt it was a good idea to do this in Holmenkollen. We haven’t given up. We must stand united in the fight, says Gyda Westvold Hansen TV2 Norway.
National team coach Ivar Stuan tells NRK that representatives from the sport had a meeting with the International Olympic Committee as recently as this week.
– There must be an end to the gender differences in the Olympics, says Stuan to the channel.
The race then?
Gyda Westvold Hansen did as usual. She won. The Norwegian was completely superior in the start of the chase and took the tenth victory out of ten possible this season. Countrywoman Ida Marie Hagen was second and Japanese Anju Nakamura came in third.
Thus, Gyda Westvold Hansen won by far the overall World Cup for the second year in a row.
