Ski Jumping Super Team Event Cut Short by Heavy Snow; Austria Takes Gold

The men's ski jumping super team event, making its debut at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, was abruptly terminated due to sudden heavy snowfall. Austria claimed victory while Japan, which had been in medal contention, expressed disappointment.

At the ski jumping venue in Predazzo, Italy, on February 16 (Korea time), the competition was suddenly halted with only three jumps remaining in the final third round. The International Ski Federation (FIS) invalidated the third-round results after determining that athlete safety could not be guaranteed as heavy snow sharply reduced in-run speed and wind direction shifted. The final standings were based on results through the second round.

In ski jumping, final rankings are determined by adding or subtracting points based on wind strength and gate height to scores earned from flight distance and form. Two athletes per country form a team, accumulating points across three rounds.

Austria, Poland, and Norway, who were in leading positions awaiting their final turns, ended the competition without recording their last jumps. Austria captured the inaugural championship title with 568.7 points. Poland (547.3 points) took silver, and Norway (538.0 points) claimed bronze.

Teams' fortunes diverged sharply. Japan's Ren Nikaido scored high marks on the first jump of the third round, temporarily moving the team into medal position. However, when the competition was halted and third-round results were invalidated, Japan finished sixth based on their second-round standing.

"This is the Olympics. You have to accept it," Nikaido said. "I finally found my rhythm on that last jump, so it's disappointing it ended this way."

Germany's Philipp Raimund, who finished fourth by a margin of 0.3 points, said, "You have to accept it, but I'm a little frustrated."

FIS Race Director Sandro Pertile explained, "The sudden heavy snowfall reduced in-run speed and wind direction changed dramatically, making it more unfair to continue the competition."