Ski Mountaineering Makes a Splash at Milano Cortina Olympics, Athletes Eye Future Global Stage
BORMIO, Italy – Despite a dramatic debut amidst a snowstorm in Bormio, ski mountaineering, the sole new sport introduced at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, has concluded its inaugural races with resounding success. Lively crowds and smooth competition have left athletes buzzing with optimism, harbouring hopes that this Olympic appearance will not be a one-off for their demanding sport.
The initial sprint races for both men and women on Thursday, followed by Saturday’s thrilling mixed relay, unequivocally demonstrated Europe’s enduring dominance in the ski mountaineering arena.
Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll etched his name in history on Thursday, securing his nation’s first Winter Olympics gold medal in an astounding 54 years. In a significant upset in the women’s sprint, Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton outpaced the pre-race favourite, France’s Emily Harrop.
Mixed Relay Delivers High Drama and French Triumph
Saturday’s mixed relay event, a dynamic format featuring one male and one female athlete from each competing nation, was fuelled by a potent mix of competitive spirit and, for some, a desire for redemption. Emily Harrop, driven by her earlier sprint race result, wasted no time in asserting dominance, taking the lead from Marianne Fatton from the very first lap. Teaming up with her compatriot Thibault Anselmet, the French duo showcased remarkable coordination and endurance, maintaining their leading position throughout the entire race to clinch a decisive victory. The Swiss pairing of Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler secured the silver medal, while Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll, joined by Ana Alonso Rodriguez, rounded out the podium with a bronze.
Representing the United States, Anna Gibson and Cam Smith delivered a spirited performance in the mixed relay, battling their way to an impressive and somewhat unexpected fourth-place finish.
A Call for Continued Olympic Inclusion
The newly crowned Olympic medallists are now united in their fervent hope that their sport’s moment in the global spotlight will extend beyond these Games. Anna Gibson articulated the overwhelming positive reception ski mountaineering has garnered during her Olympic experience. When questioned about what message she would convey to the decision-makers determining future Olympic programmes, Gibson was emphatic: “I’d say go re-watch the race. That was awesome. And also turn up the volume so you can hear the crowd cheering. I think it speaks enough for itself.”
The popularity of ski mountaineering events at the Games was undeniable, with tickets for all competitions selling out completely.
Given the French team’s consistent success, achieving podium finishes in every ski mountaineering event at Milano Cortina, it seems highly improbable that the nation, set to host the next Winter Games in 2030, would overlook the sport’s inclusion.
Sarah Cookler, Head of Sport for USA SkiMo, had already indicated her commitment in December, vowing to champion the sport’s inclusion in the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her advocacy specifically targets the inclusion of longer, individual events, which many within the ski mountaineering community consider the “heart of SkiMo.” The omission of these traditional formats from the Milano Cortina programme had been a significant point of discussion and contention among enthusiasts.
Olympic champion Oriol Cardona Coll echoed this sentiment, expressing his optimism for the sport’s future. “I think it will grow,” he stated. “This time we are doing the sprint race and mixed relay; hopefully, in the next Olympic Games, it’s also going to be the individual race, which is the queen race of ski mountaineering.”
