After extensive debate, it is now official: for the first time ever, female ski jumpers will take part in the 75th Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzentournee), marking a historic moment in the sport.
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Garmisch-Partenkirchen is part of the Four Hills Tournament. Photo: © IMAGO/Oryk HAIST
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The International Ski Federation (FIS) confirmed the decision during a meeting in Slovenia. “When we started creating the season calendar, our goals were clear: to expand our global presence and create synergies between the men’s and women’s tours. I’m very pleased that the plan reflects exactly those intentions,” said ski jumping race director Sandro Pertile.
FIS President Johan Eliasch hailed the introduction of the women’s Four Hills Tournament as “a true milestone in the history of ski jumping and winter sports as a whole.”
The debate over the inclusion had been ongoing for years. Seven-time world champion Katharina Schmid had already called for change in December 2024, stating, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
The Four Hills Tournament replaces the so-called Two-Nights Tour, which previously featured stops in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf for women. The women’s competitions will now take place on the qualification day of the men’s event.
Last winter, Slovenia’s Nika Prevc dominated the World Cup, winning the Two-Nights Tour for the third consecutive time. The 21-year-old now gets the chance to win the Four Hills Tournament like her older brothers Peter and Domen Prevc. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Norwegian Anna Odine Strøm shone by winning gold on both the normal and large hills.
From a German perspective, Selina Freitag, Agnes Reisch, and others can hope for strong performances, though Katharina Schmid ended her career after the Olympic season.
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