Beijing 2022 Nordic combined wrap-up – top stories, moments and records

The Nordic combined is designed for climactic finishes where two different sports collide, producing drama to the max. The Beijing 2022 competition delivered its fair share of surprise victories, costly meanderings, and inspirational comebacks.

Norway’s Joergen Graabak bounced back from the disappointment of PyeongChang 2018 to reclaim the individual Gundersen large hill/10km title he won at Sochi 2014. The 30-year-old Graabak also tasted success in the normal hill expanding his Olympic medal tally to five.

Vinzenz Geiger of Germany timed his race to perfection, producing a late surge to win his first individual Nordic combined gold medal. The 24-year-old upset the applecart to clinch the normal hill gold medal making it his second title since winning the team event at PyeongChang 2018.

Graabak's campaign came to a climactic conclusion when he anchored Norway to victory in the team event sending both him and his country into the record books.

Graabak’s sensational return to the top of the podium in the large hill eight years since he won double gold in Sochi 2014 was a confluence of circumstances.

Pre-Games favourite Jarl Magnus Riiber started the cross-country section in pole position a day after being released from his quarantine hotel after recovering from COVID-19. Riiber built up a healthy lead and looked set for an inspirational win before he took a wrong turn 2.5km into the course.

Riiber turned around but left himself too much to do with Graabak finishing strong to overtake the leaders and claim the victory in a dramatic sprint to the finish.

Vinzenz Geiger came into Beijing 2022, itching to get his hands on an individual medal after winning gold in the team competition in the Republic of Korea four years ago.

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