The top women ski jumpers are once again left out in the cold, but they’re not about to go away quietly. In 2006, the International Olympic Committee denied their petition to be included in the 2010 winter games in Vancouver. The I.O.C., which governs the Olympics, ruled that there were not enough top quality female ski jumpers in the world. But comments from some officials raised questions, such as the assertion that having women ski jumpers is “not appropriate from a medical point of view.”
Instead of skiing away quietly, the women fought back. First, they went to Canada’s Human Rights Commission. Then they filed a lawsuit in British Columbia which is hosting the Games. There, they were vindicated. The judge ruled the women ski jumpers were victims of discrimination, but he could not force the I.O.C. to include them. The women continue to push forward even as they watch with envy as other premiere athletes go for gold in Vancouver. Pointedly, they held a news conference at the same time a male ski jumper from Switzerland was winning the first gold medal of the Games.
The I.O.C. in an effort toward gender equality decided in 1991 that whenever a sport was added for men, it would also be open for women competitors. The problem for the female ski jumpers is that the I.O.C.’s own rule change did not apply to Olympic sports that were in the Games prior to 1991. Ski jumping falls into that category.
Currently, there are 160 women in 18 countries registered with the ski jumping federation. The women also now have ways to qualify the best of the best. In fact, an American, Lindsey Van is the current World Champion. The number of competitors in women’s ski jumping is actually higher than female participants in several olympic sports including bobsled, luge and snowboard cross.
An I.O.C. official told me off the record that 2014 in Socki, Russia is looking much better for the lady jumpers. In 2012 the Youth Olympic Games will have female ski jumpers for the first time and that is likely a precursor to full I.O.C. acceptance.