Jens Luraas Oftebro of Norway claimed the gold medal in the Nordic combined normal hill competition at the FIS World Championships, rallying from a 28-second time deficit to win a thrilling 10-kilometre cross-country race. The 27-year-old held off a fierce challenge from Austria's Johannes Lamparter, who took silver just one second behind, while Finland's Eero Hirvonen secured bronze, 2.5 seconds back.
The unique format sees athletes start with a single ski jump in the morning, where performance is converted into a time advantage for the afternoon's staggered-start cross-country race. Oftebro, part of Norway's winning relay team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and a silver medallist in the large hill event that year, showcased his endurance to overcome the penalty.
Estonia's Kristjan Ilves produced the best jump of the day at 99 metres, earning a 15-second head start, but was caught and passed by the chasing pack. Oftebro, who had been in second place, nearly fell after catching a ski tip on the fencing but recovered to take the lead and hold on to victory.
Lamparter, the top-ranked skier entering the contest, started 21 seconds behind Oftebro and closed the gap dramatically, while Hirvonen made up the biggest deficit of 36 seconds to claim bronze. The event featured two sets of brothers—Norway's 'Oftebrothers' Jens and Einar Luraas Oftebro, and Austria's Stefan and Thomas Rettenegger.
Nordic combined, a staple of the Winter Olympics since 1924 and the only Games event without women, faces an uncertain future. The International Olympic Committee has flagged potential removal due to limited TV audiences and dominance by a handful of nations.
