Norway's Strøm Shocks Favorite Prevc to Claim Olympic Ski Jumping Gold

Anna Odine Strøm delivered a stunning upset on Saturday, February 7, claiming gold in the women's normal hill individual ski jumping event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and denying Slovenian superstar Nika Prevc the victory most experts had predicted. The 23-year-old Norwegian produced jumps of 100 and 101 meters to accumulate 267.3 points, edging Prevc by a razor-thin margin of 1.1 points in one of the day's most dramatic competitions. Japan's Maruyama Nozomi claimed bronze with 261.8 points, rounding out a podium that reflected ski jumping's global expansion.

Strøm led from start to finish in the two-round competition held at the Trampolino Olimpico Italia in Cortina, demonstrating remarkable composure under the intense pressure of Olympic competition. Her opening jump of 100 meters set the standard, combining optimal takeoff timing with perfect in-flight positioning to maximize both distance and style points from the judges. The second round brought even greater drama as Prevc, jumping later in the order, threatened to overtake the Norwegian with each competitor's flight, but Strøm's 101-meter leap proved just enough to hold off the charging Slovenian.

The gold medal represents Strøm's first Olympic medal in her second Winter Games appearance, validating years of steady progression on the World Cup circuit where she had shown flashes of brilliance without breaking through for major titles. Her victory continues Norway's proud tradition in women's ski jumping, following Maren Lundby's gold medal at PyeongChang 2018, though the nation endured disappointment at Beijing 2022 when they failed to medal. The triumph also highlights the depth of Norwegian ski jumping, with the country fielding competitive athletes across both genders and all disciplines.

For Prevc, the silver medal was a bittersweet result after entering Milano Cortina as the overwhelming favorite following a dominant World Cup season that saw her win multiple competitions and establish herself as the sport's premier talent. The 24-year-old Slovenian, who comes from ski jumping royalty as part of the famed Prevc family, executed two technically sound jumps of 99.5 and 100 meters, earning 266.2 points. Despite falling agonizingly short of gold, her silver medal adds to Slovenia's rich Olympic ski jumping heritage and confirms her status among the world's elite.

Maruyama's bronze medal for Japan marked another significant achievement for a nation that has invested heavily in developing women's ski jumping over the past decade. The 22-year-old's 261.8 points came from consistent jumps that lacked the spectacular distance of the medallists ahead of her but demonstrated the technical proficiency and mental strength required for Olympic success. Japan's podium finish reflects the sport's growing competitiveness beyond its traditional European strongholds, with Asian nations increasingly challenging for medals.

The women's normal hill competition showcased ski jumping's unique blend of courage, technique, and precision, with athletes launching themselves down steep in-runs at speeds exceeding 90 kilometers per hour before soaring through the air with millimeter-perfect body positioning. Strøm's victory at Milano Cortina not only earned her a place in Norwegian sporting history but also reinforced the unpredictable nature of Olympic competition, where months of preparation culminate in two jumps that can make or break careers. As the Winter Games progress, Norway's ski jumping program has announced its arrival with authority, setting the stage for potential further success in the large hill events still to come.