Tara Geraghty-Moats puts Nordic Combined career on hold

The most successful female Nordic Combined athlete of the last few years, USA’s Tara Geraghty-Moats, has decided to put her career in Nordic Combined on hold in favour of studying and returning to biathlon.

“I have decided to take a temporary leave from the sport of Nordic Combined next winter and pursue new challenges both personally and competitively,”, the 28-year-old wrote on Instagram.

“Athletically, I have chosen to pursue biathlon, a sport that I competed in as a junior and that could provide new opportunities. Personally, in the off-season, I would like to focus on my degree in environmental science, and spend time with my boyfriend upgrading our off the grid cabin in Vermont, as well as make time for family.”

Geraghty-Moats cites the difficulties and daily challenges of competing in a small and developing sport for women as the main reason but plans to make a return if Women’s Nordic Combined will be added to the Olympic programme for 2026.

“This past season was a wild ride with extreme highs and lows. The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of 75% of the inaugural women‘s FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season, yet it was still a milestone year for the sport. Having the opportunity to compete in the maiden women’s FIS Nordic Combined World Championships and winning the first women’s nordic combined World Cup is something I have been working towards my entire ski career and I will cherish for the rest of my life”, she added.

“I can promise you this is not goodbye to nordic combined. If women’s Nordic Combined becomes an Olympic sport I promise I will do everything I can to be there in 2026.”