A Historic Leap
Women's ski jumping made its Olympic debut in 2014 after a hard-fought campaign by female athletes. Over 10 years later, it's clear that their push for inclusion wasn't just about fairness—it was the right call. New data from Share Of Voice AI shows that it has successfully drawn more women into the world of skiing.
Data Highlights the Shift
According to data from Share Of Voice AI, which studied all the Instagram accounts of the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS), ski jumping stands out with the highest percentage of female followers. Women make up 53.5% of its 96.2k followers, a stark contrast to other FIS disciplines, such as Freestyle (72.23% male) and Alpine (66.32% male). This unique trend indicates that the inclusion of women in ski jumping has not only challenged traditional gender norms but has also actively attracted more women to engage with the sport on social media.
Empowering Representation
Stars like Sara Takanashi and Maren Lundby have become icons, attracting female fans who follow both their competitions and personal journeys. Their success challenges stereotypes and reshapes perceptions of winter sports.
The Social Media Effect
Enhanced media coverage and social media engagement have been key in amplifying women's ski jumping, providing behind-the-scenes insights and building a strong, supportive community. The increase in female followers across ski jumping's social media channels shows how representation can reshape an entire sport's audience.
A Blueprint for Other Sports
The success of women's ski jumping highlights the power of inclusion: promoting female athletes, sharing personal stories, and championing equal representation. It's not just enriching the sport—it’s setting an example for gender balance across all sports.
Recent Olympic Highlights
In the most recent Winter Olympics, Urša Bogataj of Slovenia soared to victory, claiming the gold medal—her first Olympic medal. Katharina Althaus of Germany took the silver, repeating her 2018 performance and becoming the first woman to win multiple Olympic medals in ski jumping. Nika Križnar, also from Slovenia, captured the bronze. These achievements highlight the growing talent and visibility of women in the sport.
Gender Breakdown Across Other FIS Disciplines
To provide a complete picture, here is the gender breakdown for other FIS Instagram accounts: