The combined was the first Olympic alpine skiing event, introduced at the 1936 Winter Olympics.
The competition was held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and combined results from a downhill race and a slalom race. Men’s and women’s combined events were contested, making alpine skiing part of the Olympic program for the first time.
The combined differed from modern standalone downhill and slalom events because athletes were ranked using their performances across both portions. The event reflected the structure of early alpine competition, when all-around ability was especially valued.
Alpine skiing later developed a broader Olympic program, including separate downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super-G events. The 1936 event should not be confused with the first World Championships, which also helped establish alpine skiing’s international competitive identity during the same era.