After dominating the scene in the last World Cup seasons, the Norwegian Nordic combined skier is getting ready to take the Olympic throne at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
Just before the start of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, few - very few indeed - would have bet against Jarl Magnus Riiber. A three-time consecutive (back in the day) World Cup winner, this Norwegian sensation was poised to break the Olympic dominance of the unbeatable Germany, which had secured three gold medals at PyeongChang 2018.
A few days before the competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics, when everything was ready on the Zhangjiakou ski jump, it seemed that nothing could trouble the event. Nothing, except the news of Riiber testing positive to Covid-19. A second swab, carried out quickly, only confirmed the Norwegian's infection, who was therefore forced to forego the first competitions.
Once back on the track, however, he was, in spite of himself, the protagonist of a resounding mistake in the Individual Gundersen LH, which cost him his last chance of winning gold. In fact, Riiber squandered a huge advantage by taking the wrong path and setting off the part of the route that led to the final finish line instead of the part that led to the restart of the lap. “A stupid mistake” were his first words, once he finished eighth after being caught by his rivals and not holding on in the final.
The Nordic steamroller
The surprise of not seeing Riiber getting a medal at the last Beijing 2022 Olympics was huge. Suffice it to say that the Norwegian emerged as one of the brightest stars on the world stage of this discipline, already at PyeongChang 2018, where he finished at the foot of the podium in the two individual Gundersen (NH and LH) and won silver in the team event, in his early twenties.
A true serial dominator in recent years, with his mistake making headlines, instead of his victories. Indeed, the Oslo (NOR) native won every competition he entered at the World Championships in Planica 2023 (four gold medals in as many competitions held), while also taking home five World Cups in six years. The only one to beat him was Austria's Johannes Lamparter in 2023, the year Riiber had to give up several events due to a stomach infection.
The Nordic Combined, a family affair
Riiber comes from a long line of combined skiers, with his father John and his grandfather Harald being two excellent athletes. In particular, his father John won silver at the Junior World Championships and participated in the World Cup circuit in the 1980s. “One of my earliest memories,” said Jarl Magnus in an interview with the International Federation (FIS) a few years ago, “is of my brother Harald Johnas and I building a ski jumping hill and a track in our backyard to pretend being at the Olympics.”
As a child, Jarl Magnus was always one of the smallest kids in his class, thus increasing his work ethic to compete against physically fitter opponents. A unique instinct for competition: after starting out only as a ski jumper, he soon took up Nordic Combined, to add the last missing piece to his desire to compete.
The secret of his success
But what makes Riiber such a unique athlete? Nordic Combined requires good mastery of both the ski jumping and the narrow ski segment. Usually, most athletes excel in one or the other aspect.
Riiber is considered one of the best ski jumpers around, but he is also very strong in the cross-country part. In the jumping segment, athletes are awarded points based on the distance achieved and the landing style. The ranking at the end of the jump is used to define the starting order in the cross-country section. Jump scores are converted into time penalties, using the Gundersen conversion, which provides four seconds for each point gap.
An excellent performance in the jump, therefore, also guarantees a good positioning in the starting grid of the cross-country race. In recent years, Riiber has also improved his qualities in the Sprint, making him very dangerous for his opponents even in a head-to-head final.
Leaving a mark in history
Now at his third Olympic Games, Riiber will be one of the most eagerly awaited protagonists at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, entering as favourite for both the individual Gundersen and the team event, and counting on a group of good team-mates.
This could tie the record of gold medals in the Nordic Combined in a single Olympics edition, firmly in the hands of Finnish legend Samppa Lajunen, winner of three gold medals in Salt Lake City 2002.
Despite Riiber's great disappointment at Beijing 2022, the last three years have only increased his
desire for Olympic revenge. The course is set and the goal remains only one: to stand on the top step of the podium at Milano Cortina 2026.
We will be in the front row enjoying the show. What about you?
Jarl Magnus Riiber, Norway, Nordic combined, Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018
