Steamboat's Brabec wins first World Cup Nordic combined event in Seefeld

21-year-old Alexa Brabec makes history with victory in Austria, sparking calls for women's Nordic combined to be added to the Olympics.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Alexa Brabec, a 21-year-old from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, won her first career World Cup Nordic combined event on Friday in Seefeld, Austria. Brabec, who came up through the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, led the cross-country portion of the race and followed it up with a strong jump to finish 1.3 points ahead of the runner-up. The victory is the first for a U.S. Nordic athlete since 2020 and has reignited calls for women's Nordic combined to be added to the Olympic program.

Why it matters

Brabec's win is a landmark achievement for U.S. Nordic combined and shines a spotlight on the push to have women's Nordic combined included in the Olympics. Currently, it is the only Olympic sport that does not have both men's and women's competition. Brabec's success, as well as that of other rising American stars like Annika Malacinski and Tara Geraghty-Moats, demonstrates that the sport is growing globally beyond the traditional Scandinavian powers, which was a key reason cited by the IOC for not including it in the Olympics.

The details

Brabec, who was born and raised in Steamboat Springs, raced aggressively in the cross-country portion of the event, leading through much of the race before finishing third. She then put down the third-best jump of the day, scoring 122.9 total points to finish 1.3 points ahead of Slovenia's Ema Volavsek. Brabec's U.S. teammates Annika Malacinski and Tara Geraghty-Moats also had strong showings, finishing sixth and 11th respectively.

  • The Seefeld Triple event took place on January 30, 2026.
  • Alexa Brabec's victory was the first of three races in the Seefeld Triple.
  • Brabec entered Saturday's compact normal hill event as the overall points leader.

The players

Alexa Brabec

A 21-year-old Nordic combined athlete from Steamboat Springs, Colorado who came up through the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and is enjoying a breakout season on the World Cup circuit.

Annika Malacinski

Brabec's U.S. teammate and fellow Steamboat resident and Winter Sports Club alum, who posted a personal-best sixth-place finish in Seefeld.

Tara Geraghty-Moats

Another U.S. teammate of Brabec's, who finished 11th in Seefeld. Geraghty-Moats was the last American to win a World Cup Nordic combined event, doing so in 2020.

Todd Lodwick

An Olympic medalist and World Champion in Nordic combined, who believes Brabec's win shows the sport is growing globally and should be included in the Olympics.

Ben Berend

A Steamboat local and former Nordic combined Olympian who argues that the exclusion of women's Nordic combined from the Olympics is holding the sport back.

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What they’re saying

“Her win shows that more countries are competitive than the traditional Scandinavian powers, which was what the International Olympic committee cited as a reason for it not being an Olympic sport. Her win is a watershed moment for the sport, where the IOC can no longer deny women entry.”

— Todd Lodwick, Olympic Nordic combined medalist and World Champion

“The Olympics give a worldwide platform to showcase sports and help recruit the next generation of athletes and spark interest. By not including women, it denies them a valuable resource to grow their sport.”

— Ben Berend, Steamboat local and former Nordic combined Olympian

“Her win is big for drawing attention to the sport at a time when it's at a critical turning point. The U.S. can carry a lot of weight being such a huge nation. If we can get more people here engaging with and watching the sport, that may sway the IOC.”

— Stephanie Wilson, Nordic Combined USA Spokeswoman

What’s next

Alexa Brabec will look to continue her strong performance in the remaining two races of the Seefeld Triple on Saturday and Sunday.

The takeaway

Alexa Brabec's historic victory in Seefeld has reignited calls for women's Nordic combined to be added to the Olympic program, as her success demonstrates the sport is growing globally beyond its traditional Scandinavian stronghold. Brabec's win, as well as the strong showings of her U.S. teammates, highlight the need for the IOC to reconsider its stance and provide women Nordic combined athletes the same platform as their male counterparts.