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The Nordic combined has been contested at the Winter Olympics since 1924. The first competition involved 18km cross-country skiing, followed by ski jumping. Whoever earned the most points from both competitions won the event. At the 1952 Winter Olympics, the ski jumping was held first, followed by 18km cross-country skiing. The cross-country skiing portion was reduced to 15km at the 1956 Winter Olympics. The ski jumping styles would change over the years as well, from the Kongsberger technique after World War I to the Daescher technique in the 1950's to the current V-style from 1985 onwards. The cross country skiing technique would switch from classical to freestyle for all compeitions beginning in 1985, but the biggest change would occur at the 1988 Winter Olympics in the scoring with the Gundersen method, meaning the 15km cross country portion would go from an interval start race to a pursuit race, so that whoever crossed the finish line first won the Nordic Combined Event. The team event with a 3 x 10km cross country relay started at the 1988 Winter Olympics (This would change to 4 x 5km cross country relay at the 1998 Winter Olympics.). The 7.5km Sprint Event was added at the 2002 Winter Olympics. This is a Men's only event as of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Events contested at each Winter Olympics Games
| Event | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18km/15km Individual Gundersen | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 3 x 10km/ 4 x 5km Team | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
| 7.5km Sprint | X | X |
All-time medal table
| Country | Gold Silver BronzeTotal Medals | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 11 | 8 | 7 | 26 |
| Finland | 4 | 8 | 2 | 14 |
| Austria | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| East Germany (1968-88) | 3 | 4 | 7 | |
| Germany (1992-present) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| West Germany (1968-88) | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Japan | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| France | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Soviet Union (1956-88) | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Unified Team of Germany (1960-64) | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Sweden | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Poland | 1 | 1 | ||
| Russia (1994-present) | 1 | 1 |
Medalists
18km/ 15km Individual Gundersen
This involves two jumps from the ski jumping normal hill. Any one point difference between competitors in the ski jump represents 4 seconds between them at the start of the cross country part of the competition.
The 18km/15km Individual Gundersen is one of eleven events that has been in every Winter Olympics. EUA is for the Unified German team that competed in 1960 and 1964.
4 x 5km Team (3 x 10km: 1988-94)
This involves each team taking 2 jumps from the ski jumping large hill. For each one point difference between teams at the ski jump, there are 1.5 seconds between them at the start of the cross country skiing part of the competition.
7.5km Sprint
Similar to the 15km Individual Gunderson except competitors have only one jump from the large hill instead of two jumps from the normal hill.
| 2002 Salt Lake City | Samppa Lajunen (FIN) Ronny Ackermann (GER) Felix Gottwald (AUT)
| 2006 Turin | Felix Gottwald (AUT) Magnus Moan (NOR) Georg Hettich (GER)
"Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics"