WINTER OLYMPICS SKI JUMPING

OLYMPIC SPORT SINCE 1924

SKI JUMPING is one of the most spectacular discipline at the Olympic Games. It has its roots in children playing on skis in northern Europe. Legendary Norwegian Nordic athlete Sondre Nordheim is credited with the first officially measured ski jump in 1860. The first ski jumping contest was held in Trysil, Norway, in 1862. Throughout the mid-1800s, ski jumping was part of ski carnivals in Norway, but the sport gained added prestige when, in 1892, the Norwegian royal family decided to donate the "King's Cup" trophy to the winner of the annual meet held in Holmenkollen.

Ski jumping has been contested at every Olympic Winter Games since the first Games at Chamonix Mont-Blanc in 1924. The individual normal hill (K-90m) competition was contested at the first Winter Games in Chamonix and has been contested at every Games since. The individual large hill (K-120m) competition was added at the 1964 Innsbruck Games. The team large hill (K-120m) competition was added at the 1988 Calgary Games.

Three ski jumping events are held at the Olympic Games:

Individual normal hill (K-90m)
The only ski jumping event from the normal hill, which is 90 metres high. Each athlete takes two jumps, and the one with the greatest total score is declared the winner.

Individual large hill (K-120m)
This event is contested on the large hill, which measures 120 metres. Each athlete takes two jumps, and the one with the greatest total score is declared the winner.

Team large hill (K-120m)
This event is contested on the large hill, which measures 120 metres. There are four members on each team, and each athlete takes two jumps. The team with the highest total score over the eight jumps is declared the winner.

Norway has won the most Olympic medals in ski jumping with 24. Finland has won the most gold medals with 10.

VERIFIED Feb 18, 2002

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