@nocogirls
NEED TO KNOW
- At 16, Annika Malacinski discovered Nordic Combined — a grueling mix of ski jumping and cross-country skiing
- But the biggest challenge wasn’t the sport itself; it was that girls weren’t welcome
- Now 24, she’s sharing her journey on social media, where millions of viewers are following her life as a female athlete
At 16, Annika Malacinski discovered Nordic Combined — a grueling mix of ski jumping and cross-country skiing. But the biggest challenge wasn’t the sport itself; it was that girls weren’t welcome. The sport had long been dominated by men, and opportunities for women were scarce.
Still, Annika was curious, stubborn and determined to try. Once she did, she was hooked.
“Girls weren’t really encouraged to try Nordic Combined, and it wasn’t truly available to us,” Malacinski, who grew up splitting her time between Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Rovaniemi, Finland, tells PEOPLE exclusively.
She adds, “But I just wanted to see if I could do it. Once I did, I fell in love with the challenge; it felt like the ultimate test of athleticism.”
Now 24, she’s sharing her journey on social media, where millions of viewers are following her life as a female athlete in a sport still grappling with inclusion. Her videos capture not just the thrill of ski jumps and cross-country races, but also the frustration of fighting for a place in a world that wasn’t built for her.
“I realized that if people don’t know our story, nothing will change,” she says. “Seeing my videos go viral has been overwhelming in the best way. I never expected that many people to care, and it showed me how powerful storytelling can be.”
“The biggest challenge is being told ‘no’ or ‘not yet’ over and over again,” she adds. “We train just as hard as the men. We travel, spend our time and money, compete internationally at the highest level — but we still don’t have the same funding, resources or visibility,” she continues. “Sometimes it feels like we’re invisible in our own sport. Fewer competitions, less media coverage — it can be incredibly frustrating to give everything to a sport that doesn’t fully give back.”
@nocogirls
Despite these obstacles, Annika isn’t giving up. Her story has sparked conversations online about equality in winter sports and inspired fans who see her not just as an athlete but as a trailblazer.
“I fell in love with Nordic Combined because it challenged me,” she says. “And I’m not going to give that up — no matter what.”
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Even with the hate, she keeps going.
“I get both love and criticism, but the messages from young girls and parents mean the most to me,” she says. “When someone says, ‘My daughter wants to try Nordic Combined because of you,’ I cry every time. And the messages from people who had never heard of the sport before, but now support our inclusion — that’s huge.”
“It’s not always easy, but I remind myself why I’m doing this,” she adds. “Most of the criticism comes from people who don’t understand the sport or the fight. I try to focus on the impact rather than the noise. And sometimes, I just log off and go train.”
Read the original article on People
