The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina will mark a groundbreaking moment for women's ski jumping with the debut of the large hill competition.
For the first time in Olympic history, female ski jumpers will compete on the large hill (HS140), a milestone that represents a significant step toward gender equality in the sport. Since women's ski jumping was first introduced to the Olympic program at Vancouver 2010, athletes have only competed on the normal hill.
The addition of the large hill event gives female jumpers the same competitive opportunities as their male counterparts, who have contested both normal and large hill events since the sport's Olympic debut in 1924. This expansion also means women will have the chance to compete for an additional Olympic medal.
Long Road to Olympic Equality
Women's ski jumping has fought for recognition on the Olympic stage for decades. The sport was controversially excluded from the Olympic program until 2010, despite women competing at World Cup and World Championship level since the 1990s. The Vancouver Games featured only the normal hill individual event, and it took another 16 years for the International Olympic Committee to approve the large hill addition.
The decision to include the women's large hill at Milano Cortina 2026 was confirmed by the IOC in 2022, following years of advocacy from athletes, coaches, and national federations. The move aligns with the Olympic Movement's commitment to achieving full gender parity across all winter sports.
Elite Competition Expected in Italy
The inaugural women's large hill competition is expected to showcase the sport's top talent. Athletes who have dominated on the World Cup circuit will have the opportunity to make history as the first Olympic champions on the large hill. The event will take place at the Trampolino Olimpico Italia in Cortina d'Ampezzo, a venue steeped in Olympic tradition that hosted ski jumping events during the 1956 Winter Games.
With the Milano Cortina Olympics scheduled for February 2026, female ski jumpers now have a new goal to pursue as they continue pushing the boundaries of their sport.
