Alexa Brabec is one of Team USA’s top women’s Nordic Combined athletes, and she’s competing at a pivotal moment for the future of her sport.

Nordic Combined is the only Olympic sport that excludes women from competing in the Olympic Games. Women have built a World Cup circuit, competed at world championships, and grown the sport across multiple nations. Yet in 2026, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote on whether to add women’s Nordic Combined to the 2030 Winter Olympics or potentially remove the sport from the Olympic program entirely.

In this episode, Megan and Alexa talk about what that uncertainty feels like, why Olympic inclusion matters for funding and visibility, and why Alexa still believes the sport has a future. They also talk about Alexa’s recent historic World Cup season, what it was like watching the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics from the sidelines, and what’s at stake for the next generation of women in the sport.

Want to support the U.S. Nordic Combined team? Follow Nordic Combined USA on Instagram and Facebook, share their posts, or donate to support the athletes who receive limited Olympic funding. Learn more about Nordic Combined USA on their website.

If you want to help tell the IOC to add women’s Nordic Combined in 2030 without removing the sport, sign the petition.

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