Episode 46: The fight for Olympic inclusion with Annika Malacinski
This week Emma is joined by Annika Malacinksi, a rising start in Nordic Combined, a sport which combines ski jumping and cross country skiing.
Competing for the US, Annika is now on the World Cup circuit and has participated in two World Championships in a sport she took up less than a decade ago.
Annika shares how she got into Nordic Combined, what ski jumping feels like, and how the event format works with the two sports. She also explains her training for the two disciplines, and how she manages both the feelings of fear and adrenaline.
Despite the men’s event being part of the very first Winter Olympics, Women’s Nordic Combined is still excluded. Annika shares talks about this ongoing battle with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and what this could mean for the future of the sport.
Expect to hear:
How Annika got into Nordic Combined
What ski jumping feels like
How Nordic Combined competitions work
Why Women’s Nordic Combined isn’t an Olympic sport
Pushing for equality
Annika’s hopes for the future
It’s a tale of perseverance, passion and hope.
More about the visuals? You can now watch the episode on YouTube.
Follow Annika on Instagram and watch the video about her battle for equality at the winter olympics here.
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