Bickner unable to advance into medal round in first ski jump event

Kevin Bickner, a Wauconda native competing in his third Winter Olympics in ski jumping, was unable to reach the final round of the normal hill competition Monday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

The 29-year-old finished Monday’s first round in 33rd place with 121.1 points. The top 30 jumpers advanced into the final round, which determined the Olympic medals in the Nordic event at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium.

Soaring on his Fischer skis, Bickner flew 100 meters down the hill in his first-round effort, placing behind 23 other athletes strictly on distance. He was unable to make up the margin in points assigned by judges on style as well as through points added by factors of wind and gate compensation.

In a trial round on Monday held before the first round on the 107-meter-tall jump, Bickner registered a distance of 101 meters, and ranked No. 20 out of 48 jumpers. Style points were not awarded in the trial round.

In previous normal hill training sessions on Predazzo, Bickner finished 30th both times.

The final competitor of Monday’s final round, Germany’s Philipp Raimund won the gold medal with a jump of 106.5 meters and 58 of a potential 60 style points. Poland’s Kacper Tomasiak earned the silver medal and Japan’s Ren Nikaido the bronze.

American jumpers Jason Colby placed 20th and Tate Frantz tied for 21st place.

Bickner potentially has three remaining events at the Milan Cortina Olympics. He’ll compete on the large hill event on Saturday. Bickner may add Tuesday’s mixed team event of two men and two women, as well as the men’s super team on Feb. 16.