At the 2026 Winter Olympics, the German team in Nordic combined skiing faced a disappointing outcome, managing to end the games without a medal for the first time since 1998. Prior to the cross-country segment, the team demonstrated promise and was in contention for a medal, particularly after a strong performance in the ski jumping events. However, throughout the cross-country race, both Johannes Rydzek and Vinzenz Geiger fell from their initial leading positions to ultimately finish fifth.

Competing fiercely in a challenging snowy environment, the German athletes struggled to maintain their pace, leading to a significant gap by the end of the team sprint event, where they found themselves 1:06.1 minutes behind the gold medalists. The disappointment marks a stark contrast to earlier expectations that had placed the team as serious contenders for Olympic success. This outcome has sparked discussions about the future of the Nordic combined discipline for the German team at Olympic competitions.

Additionally, the broader implications of this failure may affect the perception of winter sports within Germany, where significant investments have been made for Olympic programs. There are concerns this outcome could lead to decreased support or funding for these sports moving forward, particularly ahead of future events like the 2036 Olympic Games that Germany is considering hosting. As such, this failure is not just a setback for the athletes but could also impact the landscape of winter sports in the country.