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"The number of women competing at the Olympic Games has increased significantly – from 34 per cent of the total at Atlanta 1996 to an expected new record of 48.8 per cent at Tokyo 2020"

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The Olympic Games have grown to be the largest, gender equal sporting event in the world.

More than a century after women first competed at the Olympic Games, female athlete numbers were close to equal with those of the men at Tokyo 2020.

The drive towards gender equality - on and off the field of play - has picked up pace in the Olympic Movement in recent years, thanks in part to progressive initiatives by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The number of women competing at the Olympic Games has increased significantly - from 34 per cent of the total at Atlanta 1996 to a new record of 48 per cent at Tokyo 2020, and a commitment to reach full gender equality for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

In addition to being the most gender-balanced Summer Games in history, Tokyo 2020 saw the implementation of a rule change which allowed one male and one female athlete to jointly carry their flag during the Opening Ceremony. 91% of NOCs had a female flag bearer - significantly increasing the visibility of female athletes during this iconic event.

Beijing 2022 will also be the most gender balanced Olympic Winter Games to dates, with women expected to account for 45 per cent of athletes. In October 2018, the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 were the first fully gender-balanced Olympic event ever.
The long road to equality
It has been a long road since the Paris 1900 Olympic Games, when the first female athletes competed in five events: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf. Only 22 women took part, constituting a meagre 2.2 per cent of the 997 total competitors.

Over the past 25 years, the IOC has been encouraging and working with National Olympic Committees and International Federations (IFs) to increase female participation at the Olympic Games. Key changes have included opening up of eligibility in the various sports involved; the quota places set by the IOC and filled by the IFs; and the increase of the number of medal events for female athletes. Multiple new mixed-gender events have also been added to the further promote gender diversity and equality. Tokyo 2020 doubled the number of mixed events compared to Rio 2016, while the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will see four new mixed events on the programme.

Important steps have also been taken to balance the competition schedule. Starting in PyeongChang 2018, and continuing at Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and beyond, efforts have been made to balance the number of medal events per day and the total number of hours of competition for women's and men's sport.

The IOC is not only seeking to achieve statistical parity, but also understands that every opportunity provided for women's sport and female athletes in the Olympic Games has a flow-on impact for the promotion of gender equality, and the opportunities that are given to women' athletes around the world.
More information and statistics can be found in the "Women in the Olympic Movement" Factsheet
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Gender equality through time: at the Olympic Games

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The Olympic Games have grown to be the largest, gender equal sporting event in the world. More than a century after women first competed at the Olympic Games, female athlete numbers were close to equal with those of the men at Tokyo 2020.

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Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share high jump gold rather than continue with the jump-off at Tokyo 2020.

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Barshim and Tamberi: United by gold and friendship

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It was one of the most emotional and heartwarming moments in Olympic history - when Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi decided to share high jump gold rather than continue with the jump-off at Tokyo 2020. Re-live that magic moment and hear from the two men involved.

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3X3's Olympic debut lived up to the billing at Tokyo 2020; the competition was fast-paced and gold medals were decided by a game-clinching shot.

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Olympic News - Sports News, Events & Athletes

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Find the latest Olympic News from Olympics.com, including stories from Olympic athletes and sports events - stay up to date with the latest sports news.

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Brazil’s men’s team were undefeated throughout the 2019 FIVB World Cup, eventually being crowned champions. In addition to winning the championship, they had Alan Souza named as the most valuable player and two-time Olympian Lucas Saatkamp selected as best middle blocker in the World Cup Dream Team.

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Rising above the net to perform fierce attacks.
Tokyo 2020 competition animation "One Minute, One Sport"

We will show you the rules and highlights of volleyball in one minute. Whether you are familiar with volleyball or want to know more about it, "One Minute, One Sport" explains the sport and how it works. Watch the video below.

Overview

Volleyball is played by two teams on a 18m x 9m court divided by a net (2.43m high for men, 2.24m for women). Each team at the Olympic Games is allowed up to 12 players, but only 6 play on court. The game starts with a serve that sends the ball over the net to the opponent's side. Teams are allowed to touch the ball three times before it must cross over the net into the opponent's court.

Teams try to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent's court, while also trying to prevent their opponent from doing the same. Rallies are a regular feature of the match and continue until the ball lands on the court or is hit out of bounds, in which case that team loses the point.

Players require amazing power and reactions, with the ball able to reach speeds in excess of 130km/h.

This is in sharp contrast to when the sport was first introduced as 'mintonette' by William G Morgan for older members of his YMCA gym in Massachusetts, USA in 1895.

Eventually, the sport spread globally when the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) was established in 1947. The first men's World Championship took place the following year, while the first World Championship for women was held in 1952.

Volleyball for both men and women became an official Olympic sport at the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964. At Tokyo 2020, teams are divided into two pools of six teams with each pool playing a round-robin. The top four teams of each pool advance to the quarterfinals and the final round is played under a knock-out system.

Event Programme

12-team tournament (Men/Women)

Essence of the sport
Speed, height and power are the highlight of the game
Volleyball matches are played to the best of five sets. Each set is played to 25 points with a team needing a two-point advantage to win the set. When a team wins a point they serve next. The first team to three sets wins the match but when the match is tied at two sets each, the final set is played to 15 points.

Teams employ three players at the net and three at the back of the court. If a player is in the backcourt, they are not allowed to move to the net to block or spike. The player in the specialist 'libero' position performs an exclusively defensive role and can replace any of the back players. They are easily spotted since they must wear a different coloured uniform. Each time the team wins back the serve, players must rotate a position clockwise and this rotation system is a major factor in a team's strategy.

Highlights of the game include the powerful spikes and blocks performed by players at the net. There is also an exchange of tactics at the net, and each team has a unique strategy based on their players' skills and playing style.

In recent times, offensive action has become faster while team tactics are starting to vary. Powerful jump serves send the ball speeding over the net, while players who are more than 2m tall can reach heights of up to 3.5m when smashing the ball into the opposing team's court. You may also see players diving full-length to retrieve a ball moments before it hits the floor.

Pay attention to the setter who orchestrates gameplay and communicates tactics to teammates. Getting the ball to the setter is key for teams to set up and execute attacks.

Outlook for the Tokyo 2020 Games

Brazil leads the way in the men's game and People's Republic of China in the women's, so both are favourites to defend their gold medals from Rio 2016.

Brazil's men's team were undefeated throughout the 2019 FIVB World Cup, eventually being crowned champions. In addition to winning the championship, they had Alan Souza named as the most valuable player and two-time Olympian Lucas Saatkamp selected as best middle blocker in the World Cup Dream Team.

Meanwhile, Poland's Wilfredo Leon is another player to watch having been named the best outside spiker in the 2019 FIVB World Cup Dream Team. Leon previously won silver for Cuba at the 2010 world championships, before going on to represent Poland.

The People's Republic of China lead the women's game as the back-to-back FIVB World Cup champions. Four of their players received individual awards, with star player Zhu Ting winning her second MVP award in a row.

Serbia are current holders of the FIVB volleyball women's world championship, with Tijana Boskovic named the tournament's MVP in 2018.

Italy have many up-and-coming players who are driving the team forward. Paola Egonu caught fans' attention when she topped the scoring charts at the 2018 women's world championship with an astonishing 324 points.

However, it is Russia (including the USSR) who have earned the most Olympic gold medals in volleyball - four each for both men and women. In an effort to counter European dominance, other countries have developed quick attacks and feints, adding to the complexity and excitement of the game.

What was remarkable about the People's Republic of China's women's team gold medal victory in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games?

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Rising above the net to perform fierce attacks. We will show you the rules and highlights of volleyball in one minute. Whether you are familiar with volleyball or want to know more about it, "One Minute, One Sport" explains the sport and how it works. Watch the video below.

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From its roots in sidewalk surfing and now with its Olympic debut, skateboarding is an essential part of street culture.

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Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding - Olympic Results by Discipline

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Official Skateboarding results from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Full list of gold, silver and bronze medallists as well as photos and videos of medal-winning moments.

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The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement.

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The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement.

The IOC's role is:

1. to encourage and support the promotion of ethics and good governance in sport as well as education of youth through sport and to dedicate its efforts to ensuring that, in sport, the spirit of fair play prevails and violence is banned;

2. to encourage and support the organisation, development and coordination of sport and sports competitions;

3. to ensure the regular celebration of the Olympic Games;

4. to cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace;

5. to take action to strengthen the unity of the Olympic Movement, to protect its independence, to maintain and promote its political neutrality and to preserve the autonomy of sport;

6. to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement;

7. to encourage and support elected representatives of athletes within the Olympic Movement, with the IOC Athletes' Commission acting as their supreme representative on all Olympic Games and related matters; 17 Olympic Charter In force as from 17 July 2020

8. to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women;

9. to protect clean athletes and the integrity of sport, by leading the fight against doping, and by taking action against all forms of manipulation of competitions and related corruption;

10. to encourage and support measures relating to the medical care and health of athletes;

11. to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes;

12. to encourage and support the efforts of sports organisations and public authorities to provide for the social and professional future of athletes;

13. to encourage and support the development of sport for all;

14. to encourage and support a responsible concern for environmental issues, to promote sustainable development in sport and to require that the Olympic Games are held accordingly;

15. to promote a positive legacy from the Olympic Games to the host cities, regions and countries;

16. to encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education;

17. to encourage and support the activities of the International Olympic Academy ("IOA") and other institutions which dedicate themselves to Olympic education;

18. to promote safe sport and the protection of athletes from all forms of harassment and abuse.

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International Olympic Committee - History, Principles & Financing

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The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has put tools and initiatives in place to support athletes’ mental health and well-being, including:

the IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit,

the Mentally Fit Helpline, and

the educational, expert-led content available on Athlete365

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has put tools and initiatives in place to support athletes' mental health and well-being, including:

the IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit,

the Mentally Fit Helpline, and

the educational, expert-led content available on Athlete365.

Athletes' mental health has always been a priority for the IOC, and with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by a year, the challenges of elite athletes were further accentuated. The need to support athletes' well-being, on and off the field of play, further caught the public's attention this summer, with the decision by US artistic gymnast Simone Biles to step back from competition to prioritise her mental health at Tokyo 2020.
Simone Biles:"It's OK to not be OK"
In an exclusive interview published today by Olympics.com, Biles, referring to young women taking part in her "Gold Over America Tour", said: "I hope they take away that it's OK to not be OK. You can speak up for what you believe, and you can do things alone. Sometimes, it's how you get up and pick yourself back up."

You can read the full interview with Biles here.
Educational, expert-led content available on Athlete365
Throughout October, Athlete365 - the IOC platform dedicated to the athletes' community - is taking extra steps to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around athlete mental health with an entire month of articles, interviews and conversations across the platform. This includes the Athlete365 website and its official social media channels.

The campaign builds on existing resources and provides athletes with essential, everyday skills in managing their mental health, particularly in recognising when and how to seek help. There will also be educational content designed specifically for coaches and entourage members on how they can recognise the signs and symptoms that suggest an athlete may be struggling, and their role in offering support.

While this exclusive content will be published throughout October, it will remain on the Athlete365 website for athletes, coaches and entourage members to refer to and access at any time. What's more, the #MentallyFit page - which was promoted across the Olympic Village at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - already features a whole host of resources and expert advice that can be accessed now.

To sign up to Athlete365 and become a member of the world's largest elite athlete and entourage community, please click here.
IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit
Launched in spring 2021 as part of the practical implementation of Recommendation 5 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5, the IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit has been designed to assist Olympic Movement stakeholders in developing and implementing initiatives related to the protection and promotion of mental health and well-being among elite athletes.

The Toolkit, a joint initiative by the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission and the IOC Athletes' and Athletes' Entourage commissions, which was developed in collaboration with the IOC Mental Health Working Group, provides an overview of mental health symptoms and disorders commonly seen in elite athletes, and the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholder groups in creating psychologically safe athletic environments. It also offers additional relevant IOC resources, information and educational programmes.

The IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit can be downloaded here.
The Mentally Fit Helpline
Introduced for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, as well as the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Mentally Fit Helpline is a dedicated 24-hour service offering mental health and well-being support to competing athletes. It is staffed by expert counsellors and available in over 70 languages.

Athletes who attended Tokyo 2020 were eligible to receive six free counselling sessions for up to three months post-competition. This helpline will remain in place for Olympic and Paralympic athletes competing at Beijing 2022.

For more information on the Mentally Fit Helpline, visit Athlete365.
IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport
The prevention of mental health issues among elite athletes will also be on the agenda of the IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport, which will be held in Monaco on 25-27 November 2021.

The conference will present evidence-based information on methods to prevent injuries, illness and other health problems associated with sports participation, from a multidisciplinary perspective.

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Supporting athletes' mental health on and off the field of play - Olympic News

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has put tools and initiatives in place to support athletes' mental health and well-being, including: the IOC Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit, the Mentally Fit Helpline, and the educational, expert-led content available on Athlete365.

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The designers of the mascot are Florencia Demaria (24 years old) & Luis Abbiati (25 years old) from Argentina.

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Innsbruck 2012 mascot competition has a winner!!

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Voting for the Innsbruck 2012 Mascot Design Competition closed, and it was neck and neck right up until the final minutes between the Goat and the Ibex.

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From a Nelly Korda/Xander Schauffele USA double to a seven-man playoff for bronze, golf lit up the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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Golf was back on the Olympic schedule at Rio 2016 for the first time in 112 years, and we got a first ever Olympic hole-in-one by Justin Rose who also took home gold.

Golfers at Tokyo 2020 had a lot to live up to, and did so in style, Nelly Korda and Xander Schauffele topped the women's and men's podiums on proud days for Team USA.

22-year-old INAMI Mone flew the flag for the hosts and South-African born Rory Sabbatini claimed silver under the Slovakian flag.

Then there was that unprecedented seven-way battle for bronze in the men's event that included Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, MATSUYAMA Hideki, and Chinese Tapei's CT Pan.

Read on for golf's Top 5 moments at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where you can watch highlights and replays, and look ahead to Paris 2024.

1. Nelly Korda: Summer lovin' happened so fast

What an unforgettable summer it was for 23-year-old Nelly Korda.

In June she won her maiden major at the Women's PGA Championship in Atlanta before jumping on a jet to claim Olympic gold in Tokyo in August as World No.1.

"Honestly, it's crazy," she said. "I've always been super determined and super focused on what I want."

What she wanted was gold and she got it with a commanding display of calm and maturity way beyond her years.

Two double bogeys threatened to derail her gold medal dream but on the final day she went from a double bogey on the seventh to three straight birdies, pulling away from home hope INAMI Mone and New Zealand's Lydia Ko.

Inami and Ko finished with silver and bronze, and the New Zealander had nothing but kind words for the American champion.

"It's not easy playing as the No. 1 in the Olympics. I did that in Rio," Ko - the Rio silver medallist - said.

"And for her to fight through those kind of pressure and expectations and to end up winning the gold, I think it shows what kind of class player she is.

"I'm sure this is the start of many more majors and many more wins for Nelly."

2. Inami's silver gets golf-crazy Japan on its feet

Golf is one of the most popular sports in Japan and all hopes rested on Inami's shoulders after Matsuyama didn't manage to make the podium a week earlier.

It was a lot to ask of the 22-year-old and the nation was already celebrating as she went into a sudden-death playoff against Lydia Ko to see who would take silver and bronze behind Korda, with a medal guaranteed.

Both players shot 6-under 65s and were tied for second on 16-under after 72 holes at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama Prefecture.

And Inami could hardly believe it when Ko missed her putt for par on the first playoff hole. A silver as good as gold for the watching Japanese public.

"The Olympics have always been a dream of mine, and I'm glad I was able to keep it from becoming a nightmare. I didn't imagine any of this. It's a miracle I even qualified," she said.

3. Xander Schauffele did it for dad

The men's competition was another nail-biter as it all came down to a Schauffele-Rory Sabbatini showdown.

The U.S. big hitter looked like h had ice in his veins to sink two key putts and clinch gold, the last one a real cliff-hanger.

"I just reminded myself, this is just a 4-footer," he said. "All you have to do is make it. No big deal."

Calm on the exterior, heart pounding and mind racing inside, he still managed to find the hole.

"I was trying so hard to just stay calm," he revealed. "But man, it was stressful. And I made that putt and it was just a huge weight lifted off my shoulders."

Schauffele shared that he was doing it for his dad, whose own Olympic aspirations were ended when he was hit by a drunk driver and left blinded in one eye.

"For me, I really wanted to win for my dad," Xander said, "I am sure he is crying somewhere right now. I kind of wanted this one more than any other."

4. Why did Rory Sabbatini play for Slovakia?

Born in Durban, South Africa, in 1976, why was Rory Sabbatini playing under the Slovak flag?

Sabbatini's wife Martina comes from Slovakia and he became a Slovakian citizen towards the end of 2018. His wife has a cousin in the Slovak Golf Federation and she caddied for him at Tokyo 2020.

"Her cousin came up with the idea," Sabbatini said. "This is an opportunity to bring more kids into the game of golf, because they really haven't had an exposure on an international stage to really have someone to follow. They have a lot of hockey players, skiers, tennis players, all sports. But nobody in golf."

Sabbatini's got game: He has six wins on the PGA Tour, has played in the Presidents Cup and once reached as high as No. 8 in the world.

And he was pretty good in Tokyo too, losing out on gold by a single shot.

His silver helped Slovakia to a four-medal haul including a gold in women's trap, another silver in men's kayak, and bronze in canoe.

5. Men's bronze medal playoff: Tee party

Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, MATSUYAMA Hideki, CT Pan, Collin Morikawa, Mito Pereira, Sebastian Muñoz.

Seven different players with seven different nationalities were tied on -15 under in third place after four days of golf and it meant a play-off for bronze.

Never had it happened before and they had to be split into two groups.

Quickly they fell away, Casey drove into the trees, Matsuyama hit another one awry as Japanese golf fans could hardly watch, then Morikawa hit the flag as the drama dialled up.

"I've never tried so hard in my life to finish in third place," McIlroy said afterwards, as he dropped out of the reckoning with Pereira and Muñoz.

Only Pan and Morikawa were left, and when the American's par putt rolled by the 18th hole - the fourth play-off hole - the bronze belonged to Pan, who turned and embraced his wife and caddie LIN Yingchun.

There was a lot of love on and off the green for golf at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

One last look

120 golfers from over 40 different countries took to the course at the Kasumigaseki Country Club and gave an Olympic exhibition worthy of the greatest sporting stage on the planet.

New Zealand's Lydia Ko became the first golfer ever to win two medals at two different Olympic Games and Sabbatini shot an Olympic record 61.

All the drama, passion and emotion that golf has to give is here to stay and next up is Paris 2024.

Golf at the Paris 2024 Olympics

It's only three years from the next summer spectacle in France and Tokyo has whetted the appetite of many golfers.

Rory McIlroy's bronze medal chase has given him a taste and he wants more:

"I certainly didn't expect to feel the way I did when I was there, but it was great. It was a great experience. I had a wonderful time," McIlroy said after enjoying the few days playing with his Irish teammate Shane Lowry.

"It makes me even more determined going to Paris and trying to pick one (medal) up," he said after that incredible playoff.

McIlroy won't be the only one looking forward to it: She's 23 now, but could Nelly Korda become the first golfer to defend an Olympic title; is Schauffele going for a repeat at Paris?

Whatever happens, we'll see the greatest in the game face off in the French capital at more unforgettable Olympic golf competitions.

Highlights

The highlights and replays of the Tokyo 2020 golf events are available here on demand: olympics.com/tokyo2020-replays

Golf results at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics: All the medallists
Men's individual strokeplay
Gold: Xander Schauffele (USA)

Silver: Rory Sabbatini (SVK)

Bronze: PAN C T (TPE)
Women's individual strokeplay
Gold: Nelly Korda (USA)

Silver: INAMI Mone (JPN)

Bronze: Lydia Ko (NZL)

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What we learned: Golf wrap-up from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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From a Nelly Korda/Xander Schauffele USA double to a seven-man playoff for bronze, golf lit up the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Take a look at the top moments, get highlights, replays, and what to look forward to at Paris 2024.

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"This  will  drive  you for  the rest of your life"

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What we learned: Badminton wrap-up from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

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From Viktor Axelsen’s triumph to Chinese Taipei’s historic run, we take a look at badminton’s most memorable moments at Tokyo 2020, a medal recap, and what we have to look forward to at Paris 2024.

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Alpine skiing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the Winter Olympic programme, which is arguably reflected in the fact that in the entire history of Alpine skiing at the Winter Games, only five athletes have successfully defended their Olympic crowns across all events in the competition.

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Alpine skiing (sometimes referred to as downhill skiing) is one of the signature competitions at the Winter Olympics. Competitors regularly reach speeds of up to 152 km/h (95 mph), all while navigating a winding course full of sharp turns and soaring jumps.

There are 11 events in the Alpine competition at the Games, with 33 medals up for grabs; but who will be the favourites to win them?

Here you'll find our preview for Alpine skiing at Beijing 2022, including the history of the sport, the top skiers to watch, venue information, and more!

Top Olympic skiers at Beijing 2022

Alpine skiing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the Winter Olympic programme, which is arguably reflected in the fact that in the entire history of Alpine skiing at the Winter Games, only five athletes have successfully defended their Olympic crowns across all events in the competition.

So if history is any indicator, we should be seeing plenty of new champions (and first-time medalists) on the Alpine podiums in Beijing. Of course, that doesn't mean the established stars and veterans of the sport should be overlooked - far from it.

One of the biggest names to look out for in Beijing is Mikaela Shiffrin (USA). The two-time Olympic gold medalist won four medals at the 2021 World Championships (including gold in Alpine combined) to add to her already historic career CV in the sport, which includes three Overall World Cup championships, four world championships in slalom, and the achievement of being the only skier in history with wins in all six FIS Alpine Ski World Cup disciplines.

Shiffrin competed in the giant slalom (gold), slalom and combined (silver) events at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and will be the favourite to medal in all three of these events in Beijing.

PyeongChang super-G winner Ester Ledecká (CZE) - who also won gold in the parallel giant slalom in snowboarding in 2018 - finished fourth in the event at the '21 World Championships. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) won gold in that event and the giant slalom, putting herself among the top names to watch for both events in Beijing.

Michelle Gisin (SUI), who won gold in the combined event in PyeongChang, appears to be in strong form after finishing third at the World Championships, while it will be interesting to see if Sofia Goggia (ITA) can defend her Olympic crown in the downhill with Gut-Behrami and '21 World Champion Corinne Suter (SUI) seemingly poised to challenge the Italian for the gold medal in Beijing.

Double Olympic champion Marcel Hirscher (AUT) retired from the sport in 2019, meaning he won't be in Beijing to defend his crowns in the men's giant slalom and combined. Mathieu Faivre (FRA), who won gold in the former as well as in the parallel giant slalom (a non-Winter Olympic event), could be the man to win the event in what would be his third Winter Games, though Alexis Pinturault (FRA), who won silver and bronze in the combined and giant slalom events respectively in PyeongChang, could prove to be a fierce opponent.

Other names to look out for in the men's competition include Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) (the reigning world champion in super-G and downhill), Matthias Mayer (AUT) (Winter Olympic gold medalist in the super-G (2018) and downhill (2014)), and five-time Winter Olympic medalist and 2019 downhill world champion Kjetil Jansrud (NOR).

Olympic Alpine skiing schedule at Beijing 2022

The Alpine competition will take place from 6 February - 19 February 2022.

Olympic Alpine skiing venue at Beijing 2022

The Alpine competition will take place at the National Alpine Ski Centre in the Yanqing competition zone.

Following the Games, the venue will be used for national team training and international sports events.

Olympic Alpine skiing competition format at Beijing 2022

The Alpine competition at Beijing 2022 will feature 11 events.
Men & Women Downhill Super-G Giant Slalom Slalom Alpine Combined Mixed Team
Competitors get one run to post their fastest time in the downhill and super-G events, while the slalom and giant slalom competitions take place over two courses. Competitors who do not finish or are disqualified from their run on the first course do not advance to the second course. The cumulative time from an athlete's runs on both courses is used to determine the winner of the events. In the Alpine combined, skiers participate in one run of downhill and one run of slalom on different courses from those used in the downhill and slalom competitions. Like the slalom and giant slalom, only competitors who complete a successful run on the downhill portion advance to the slalom run. The times of the two runs are combined to determine final placements.

In the mixed team event, teams are comprised of two men and two women representing the same nation. Two teams compete against each other in a parallel slalom race, with two skiers racing one another on the same course simultaneously, side-by-side. In this event whoever crosses the finish line first is the winner, meaning the team that wins three races advances to the next round of the competition. In the event that both teams win two races, the team with the lowest combined time of their fastest male and female athlete is the winner.

Olympic Alpine skiing history

Skiing has an ancient history, and can be traced to prehistoric times by the discovery of varying sizes and shapes of wooden planks preserved in peat bogs in Russia, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Ski fragments discovered in Russia have been carbon-dated back to circa 8000-7000 BC. It is virtually certain that a form of skiing has been an integral part of life in colder countries for thousands of years.

The birth of modern downhill skiing is often dated to the 1850s when Norwegian legend Sondre Norheim popularised skis with curved sides, bindings with stiff heel bands made of willow, as well as the Telemark and Christiania (slalom) turns.

Men's and women's Alpine skiing both debuted on the Olympic programme in 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The only event that year was a combined competition of both downhill and slalom. In 1948, this was held along with separate downhill and slalom races. Four years later the giant slalom was added and in 1988 the super giant slalom became a fourth separate event. In 2018, the mixed team event became the latest addition to the Winter Olympic Alpine competition.

It's not an understatement to say that Austria has thoroughly dominated Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics, winning 121 medals - 55 more medals than their closest challenger, Switzerland (who oddly enough have 22 medals each in all three categories).

Kjetil André Aamodt (NOR) is the most decorated Winter Olympic Alpine skier in history with eight medals, including four golds. Janica Kostelić (CRO) is the most successful female skier in the competition with six medals, four of which are gold. Both Aamodt and Kostelić are the only athletes to have won four gold medals in Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics.

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Olympic Alpine skiing at Beijing 2022: Top five things to know

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Alpine skiing (sometimes referred to as downhill skiing) is one of the signature competitions at the Winter Olympics. Competitors regularly reach speeds of up to 152 km/h (95 mph), all while navigating a winding course full of sharp turns and soaring jumps.

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Anastasiya Kuzmina, the first biathlete to win gold at three consecutive Olympic Games (Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018).

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Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting that brings strength and precision together. But how does it feel to approach your shooting targets as your heart pounds in your chest and you sense the crowd watching your every move?

To answer these and many other questions, we talked to a true biathlon legend: Anastasiya Kuzmina, the first biathlete to win gold at three consecutive Olympic Games (Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018).

In an interview with Olympics.com, the Slovak revealed the secrets of the sport and identified the favorites to watch in the competition at Beijing 2022. Below is a transcript of that interview, lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

OC (Olympics.com): How did you fall in love with biathlon? What made you want to become a professional athlete?

Anastasiya Kuzmina (AK): It's no secret that biathlon, at first, was not the number one sport in my life; I started with cross-country skiing and then switched to biathlon. My parents were athletes and they played a big role in me following in their footsteps. When the shooting component of the sport was added to my training regimen, everyone expected that once I learned how to shoot, I would become a champion. But the truth is, shooting did not come easy to me. Even though I had my first success in biathlon when I was 15, people who watched me throughout my career might have noticed that I struggled with my shooting right up until the end of my career.
OC: Are you still involved with biathlon after your retirement? Do you still ski and shoot? How is your schedule different from when you were active?
AK: I always thought it would be a waste to retire and leave sports without passing down my knowledge; I wanted to transition from an active athlete to a player-coach position. Now I only practice biathlon when I am a coaching consultant for other athletes. There is a Kuzmina team of 10 athletes who expressed their interest to train under my guidance with the help of my husband.

Sometimes I am invited as an expert to talk about women in sports on Slovakian TV. I am also collaborating with the Slovakian Olympic Committee on projects that promote youth sport participation. I give talks at schools, bring my medals and chat with students about my sports career.

If you had to explain biathlon to someone in a few words, what would you say?

AK: If I were to avoid the textbook definition of biathlon being a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting, I'd say that biathlon is a sport that brings together skiing with a bunch of kilograms on your back and shooting at a very high pulse at the shooting range under constantly changing [weather] conditions.

Biathlon in one minute

The basics: Biathlon is a sport that combines the endurance of free-technique cross-country skiing with precision small-bore rifle marksmanship. The combination of two very contradictory disciplines - skiing and shooting - in the same competition poses a very demanding challenge for any athlete. When athletes arrive at the shooting range, they have to shoot at very small targets, with a racing heartbeat and heaving chest because the clock is running even while they are shooting, and a missed target results in a penalty. There are two shooting positions, prone and standing, which are done either alternately or consecutively, depending on the competition. Penalties are imposed for missed targets (Source: IBU Biathlon Guide).

Olympic history: Biathlon has been a regular feature at the Olympics since 1960 with its debut in the men's 20km individual competition at Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, USA. The first women's competitions took place at Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France in 1992.

Olympic medal leaders (nations): Germany with 52 medals (doesn't come as a surprise that this country is where biathlon is most popular), followed by 41 medals by Norway and 23 medals by Russia (if we do not count USSR medals).

Athlete Olympic medal leaders: Biathlon legend Norway's Ole Einar Bjørndalen's eight gold medals make him the most successful male athlete in Winter Olympic history. The most decorated female Olympic athlete is Germany's who won nine medals (two of them gold).

What do you love most about biathlon and what is the most challenging part of it?

AK: Biathlon is one of the most dynamic winter sports. Emotions are sometimes so high that you can't help but hold your breath. The drama remains throughout an entire race from the beginning till the last meters. When you support an athlete, you understand the euphoria when your favourite one closes all five targets - you can't compare it to anything else.

What are the three most memorable moments of your career?

AK: The first moment was when I finished my career in Russia. You realise that you are 22 years old and you still have the energy to continue your career. But at the same time, you don't want to leave your baby to go off and compete. The Russian national team already had its big names, and nobody thought I could achieve something with my husband and child. Then an offer came from Slovakia. My husband Daniel Kuzmin quit his professional career as at that time he was still an active cross-country skier representing Israel. He said that one of us had to quit to support the other partner. It was a step towards the unknown.

The second moment was my comeback after giving birth to my daughter Olivia. I had to find the motivation to come back to sports despite already being an Olympic champion.

The third important moment came when I decided to say goodbye to my athletic career. At that point, I had a feeling I already proved everything to everyone three times with my third Olympic gold medal. During the 2018 Olympic season, for the first time in my life, I had the feeling not of skiing, but of flying on the track.
OC: Which Olympic Games are the most meaningful to you?
AK: Participating at the Olympics is the dream for any athlete. First experiences in our lives are exciting, they are the ones we remember the most. First kiss, first love. Out of my three Olympic Games, was the most important. I arrived in Vancouver just six weeks after my wrist surgery [ OC: Kuzmina fell in a World Cup event in Austria during a World Cup event resulting in a wrist injury]. We were lucky enough to find a doctor in Austria who understood the gravity of the situation and agreed to perform surgery. He was a big fan of biathlon. The doctor told me that in six weeks I can slowly start training. And six weeks later, I won Olympic gold!

At the start line of the sprint event, I told myself, "Nastya, you are always struggling with your shooting. But try to shoot clean today," and I still finished with a penalty loop! I thought I didn't succeed but I knew I gave everything I had on the track. I didn't look at the scoreboard when my time came up; while everyone was expecting Magdalena Neuner's result, I went to a locker room to cool down. Then suddenly everybody came in shouting at the top of their lungs. I couldn't understand what was happening; whether it was a loss or a win. But when I realized I had won, I was overwhelmed with happiness. When I called my parents from a mini-bus on the way to the hotel, they began shouting with joy so loudly that the bus driver could hear their voices on the phone all the way from the back of the bus!

What can we expect from biathlon at Beijing 2022? Is there a young athlete in biathlon that you think people should keep an eye on?

AK: The Olympics in Beijing will be a very exciting Games to watch, especially women's biathlon as we will witness a generational change. I am excited to watch Ukraine's Semerenko sisters compete, as Beijing will most likely be the last Olympics for them. There are some women who have been showing excellent results and were coined as "biathlon queens", but they still do not have an Olympic medal. One of them is Italy's Dorothea Wierer. There will be a few Olympic debuts, for example for a young athlete like Hanna Sola from Belarus.

For Sweden's Hanna Oeberg, Beijing will be a chance to win another medal in an individual event.

And finally, we will probably witness the Boe brothers take their competitiveness and success at the World Cup level to the Olympics. As much as the whole biathlon world and in particular French fans were devastated with Martin Fourcade retiring from biathlon in 2020, another leader emerged right away on the French national team: Emilien Jacquelin.

Check out more stories from our "An Olympian explains" series here:

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An Olympian explains: How to master biathlon with Anastasiya Kuzmina

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Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting that brings strength and precision together. But how does it feel to approach your shooting targets as your heart pounds in your chest and you sense the crowd watching your every move?