Catch the Predazzo wind: Ski jumping heads into a Slovenia vs Japan duopoly at Milano Cortina 2026
The 25th Winter Olympic Games, Milano Cortina 2026, open on February 6. Ski jumping will be staged at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium in Val di Fiemme (northern Italy), with six medal events held from February 7–16. This season’s World Cup narrative has been led by Slovenia’s Prevc siblings—Domen Prevc on the men’s side and Nika Prevc on the women’s—while Japan arrives with a formidable group featuring Ryoyu Kobayashi, Ren Nikaido, and Nozomi Maruyama. The Olympic storyline is shaping up to look a lot like Slovenia vs Japan.
Predazzo has just been reborn. The venue—long associated with major Nordic events—was fully renovated and reopened in summer 2025 in Olympic specification. The Normal Hill was extended to HS107 (K98), and the Large Hill to HS141 (K128), creating a modern stadium with capacity around 5,000 spectators. With elevation and wind playing a major role, it’s often described as one of the most technically demanding hills—a perfect stage for a new Olympic champion to emerge.
Ski jumping medal program (scheduled)
Milano Cortina 2026 features six ski jumping events: three men’s, two women’s, and one mixed. The first final is the women’s Normal Hill individual, and the last day closes with the men’s Super Team (Large Hill).
| Date (local) | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | Women’s Normal Hill Individual | First ski jumping medal event |
| Feb 9 | Men’s Normal Hill Individual | First men’s individual event |
| Feb 10 | Mixed Team (Normal Hill) | Team event with 2 women + 2 men |
| Feb 14 | Men’s Large Hill Individual | Classic “King of the Hill” showdown |
| Feb 15 | Women’s Large Hill Individual | Women’s Large Hill makes its Olympic debut |
| Feb 16 | Men’s Super Team (Large Hill) | New event: pairs × 3 rounds |
Power map for Milano Cortina via World Cup standings
Based on the FIS World Cup overall standings just before the Games (as of after Willingen), the men’s top three read: 1) Domen Prevc (Slovenia, 1614 pts), 2) Ryoyu Kobayashi (Japan, 989 pts), 3) Ren Nikaido (Japan, 921 pts). The women’s side lists 1) Nika Prevc (Slovenia, 1936 pts), 2) Nozomi Maruyama (Japan, 1450 pts), 3) Lisa Eder (Austria, 1133 pts).
| Men’s World Cup Overall (2025–26 / after Round 22) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Points |
| 1 | Domen Prevc | Slovenia | 1614 |
| 2 | Ryoyu Kobayashi | Japan | 989 |
| 3 | Ren Nikaido | Japan | 921 |
| Women’s World Cup Overall (2025–26 / after Round 25) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Points |
| 1 | Nika Prevc | Slovenia | 1936 |
| 2 | Nozomi Maruyama | Japan | 1450 |
| 3 | Lisa Eder | Austria | 1133 |
Note: compiled from the official FIS cup standings.
Japan’s key trio: Ryoyu Kobayashi, Ren Nikaido, Nozomi Maruyama
Japan’s men’s pillar is, unsurprisingly, Ryoyu Kobayashi. The Beijing 2022 Normal Hill Olympic champion sits second overall this season behind Domen Prevc. In January’s Ski Flying World Championships team event, he won Japan’s first-ever ski flying team gold alongside Ren Nikaido, Tomofumi Naito, and Naoki Nakamura—proof that Japan can also deliver on the big hill. In Predazzo, Kobayashi projects as a medal threat across the Normal Hill, Large Hill, and Super Team.
The man rising fast to challenge that hierarchy is Ren Nikaido. He captured his first World Cup win this season at Innsbruck during the storied Four Hills Tournament, then became a frequent podium finisher, climbing to third overall. At Willingen—final World Cup stop before the Olympics—he delivered another runner-up finish to underline form. In Predazzo, expectations extend beyond individual events to a leading role in the men’s Super Team.
On the women’s side, Nozomi Maruyama has been Japan’s ace. After opening the season with three straight wins, she maintained stability across the calendar and now chases Nika Prevc from second overall. She also secured a runner-up finish in the women’s Large Hill season finale at Willingen, putting her squarely in the medal conversation for both individual events—and the mixed team—at the Olympics.
Veteran Sara Takanashi also remains in the top group, sitting around ninth overall. Her explosive upside has still produced multiple top-10 finishes this season, and if conditions align in Predazzo, she’s a genuine podium possibility. Together with Maruyama, she strengthens Japan’s women’s team depth in a meaningful way.
Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Norway… a crowded medal battle
With Domen and Nika Prevc at the top, Slovenia looks like the outright favorite across both genders. Domen has already collected major titles this season—an overall Four Hills win, multiple World Championship crowns, and the Ski Flying world title—cementing status as the men’s benchmark. Nika has stacked double-digit victories and stands as the new symbol of women’s ski jumping.
Trying to break the Slovenia–Japan axis are deep squads from Austria and Germany. Both nations field multiple podium-caliber athletes in individual and team formats, and in a wind-sensitive venue like Predazzo, medal colors could swing dramatically day to day.
Norway has endured a headwind season amid suit-rule controversy and sanctions involving staff, but it remains a powerhouse with proven talent. How far athletes such as Beijing Large Hill gold medalist Marius Lindvik can rebound—and whether Norway can stabilize on the biggest stage—adds another layer of intrigue in Predazzo.
Official posts that capture the Predazzo mood
The Olympic atmosphere and the venue’s vibe are easy to feel through official social posts. Embedding a few of these helps readers picture the heat and anticipation in Predazzo.
