For Annika Malacinski, a 24-year-old athlete from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, training for the Milano Cortina Olympic Games was a pursuit of a major dream. She had committed herself completely to the grueling dual discipline of Nordic combined. The sport is gnarly, as it fuses the explosive courage of ski jumping with the relentless endurance of cross-country skiing. However, that dream of hers for the Olympic Games was shattered recently.

When the teams were finalized, Malacinski didn’t find herself, and she shared her heartbreak on her Instagram with a caption: “@olympics the ball should bounce the same for everyone. We want to see Women’s Nordic Combined at the Olympics. Please help!” The social media post then had a lengthy emotional note from the athlete.

“BECAUSE EQUALITY SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 4 YEARS. Today, Olympic teams were named. Dreams were confirmed. And once again, I am not missing because of my level. Not because of my work. Not because of my commitment,” she said. “I am missing because I am a woman…” Her dream was very straightforward.

It was to step onto the same Olympic start line as her younger brother, Niklas, with whom she shares not just a home but a sport and a national team. “This February, I will be on the sidelines watching my brother compete in the Olympic Games. We do the same sport. We jump the same jumps. We ski the same course. We make the same sacrifices. Everything is the same. Except my gender,” she conveyed.

Nordic combined is a sport that has a small number of countries that take part in it. While there have always been male participants, the Olympic Games have never seen a female athlete in the competition. The irony is heightened by the IOC’s own promotion of the 2026 Games as the most gender-balanced Olympic Winter Games in history.

While statistics show that 47% of the athletes are women at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games, compared to the 40% at the 2014 Sochi Games, Malacinski’s situation showcases that the issues are still persistent. “I built my life around Nordic Combined with one goal. The Olympic Games. 2026. When the biggest stage in the world arrives, the door is still closed. We are told to prove ourselves. To progress. To wait. While the very platform that creates growth is denied to us,” she said.

“I will cheer louder than anyone this Olympic month. I just should not have to be watching from the outside. Because equality should never have to wait another four years.” So, despite all the problems she has been facing, Malacinski has also battled criticism, inspiring many young girls at the same time.

Milano Cortina Winter Games dreams shattered, but her determination remains high

Annika Malacinski’s emotional social media post comes after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games team selection. However, this isn’t the first time that the athlete has spoken about this issue. Last year, during November, she also posted a lengthy Instagram post, and while there have been people supporting her, there have also been a lot of criticisms. But she always had a straightforward mentality while dealing with skepticism.

“It’s not always easy, but I remind myself why I’m doing this. Most of the criticism comes from people who don’t understand the sport or the fight. I try to focus on the impact rather than the noise. And sometimes, I just log off and go train,” she said, during an interview with People.

Furthermore, Malacinski revealed the source behind her motivation, saying, “Every time I get a message from a young athlete saying they started Nordic Combined because they saw me, it reminds me why this matters. I don’t want the next generation to have to fight the same battles. I hope girls grow up in a world where this fight is already won. I want them to see women on TV, in magazines, on podiums and know that they belong here. If my voice can help open that door, it’s worth everything.”

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Indeed, the athlete’s words are no longer just about her personal dreams but a long-lasting challenge that the Winter Games face.