How many jumpers make the final round in ski jumping?
I · Intermediate · The competition · 1 of 3At the Olympics and World Championships, each nation enters up to four jumpers, who must qualify for an individual field of 50. The first round is jumped in reverse order of World Cup standing. Only the top 30 go on to the second round, which starts in reverse order of the first-round scores, so the leader jumps last.
How it works
- Entries: up to four per nation at the Olympics and World Championships.
- Qualification: on the last training day, for a field of up to 50.
- First round order: jumpers without World Cup points drawn first; the rest in reverse order of standing.
- Second round: the top 30 only.
- Second round order: reverse order of first-round scores.
- 95 per cent rule: a jumper who falls after reaching 95 per cent of the longest jump still goes through.
- Other events: seeded groups, one jumper per nation per group.
- Reserves: may replace a non-starter, if the jury agrees.
The glossary has the qualification round, the two rounds, the seeded groups, the trial round, the start time control and the competition types.
Tricky cases
A jumper falls on a long jump in the first round. Out?
Not if the jump reached 95 per cent of the longest jump; they join the qualified jumpers.
Can a nation enter six jumpers at the Olympics?
Six may train, but only four may be entered in each event.
A jumper arrives late through no fault of their own. What happens?
They may appeal to the jury, which can let them jump out of order.
Who jumps first in the second round?
The jumper placed 30th after the first round; the leader jumps last.
Why the rule exists
Cutting to 30 keeps the second round short and focused on contenders. Reverse order gives the leaders the last jumps and stops conditions favouring an early slot.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Olympics, World Championships | Up to 50; top 30 in round two | ICR 451.4, 451.5 |
| Other one-hill events | Four seeded groups | ICR 452.1 |
| Ski Flying World Championship | 40 in round one; best 30 on day two | ICR 454.4.2 |
From the rule book
FIS, The International Ski Competition Rules (ICR), Book III: Ski Jumping (edition June 2026), articles 421, 422.12, 422.14, 433.4, 451 and 452. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the FIS ICR, revised by the FIS Council.