Switzerland’s Fatton Wins First Olympic Ski Mountaineering Gold Amid Blizzard
Updated (2 articles)
Olympic Debut of Ski Mountaineering Confirmed The sport of ski mountaineering, known as “skimo,” entered the 2026 Winter Olympics program on Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Bormio, part of the Milan‑Cortina Games [1][2]. It is the first Winter Games addition since snowboarding in 1998, tracing its roots to 19th‑century alpine travel [2]. The event featured a sprint race that combined uphill climbing, a foot‑section, and a rapid downhill run [1][2].
Women’s Sprint Crowned to Marianne Fatton Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton captured the inaugural women’s gold with a time of 2 minutes 59.77 seconds, edging France’s Emily Harrop by 2.38 seconds [1][2]. Fatton, the reigning world champion, described the victory as “magical,” and noted her mother, former Olympian Anna Janouskova, watched from the stands [1]. Harrop earned silver after a transition error cost her crucial seconds [1][2].
Men’s Sprint Yields Spain’s First Winter Gold Since 1972 Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll won the men’s sprint, delivering the nation’s first Winter Olympic gold since alpine skier Francisco Fernández Ochoa’s 1972 triumph [2]. Russia’s Nikita Filippov, competing as a neutral athlete, took silver—the first medal for a neutral competitor on Italian soil [1][2]. Bronze medals went to Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, who raced with a torn ACL, and France’s Thibault Anselmet [1].
Race Format Demands Rapid Gear Changes and Three‑Minute Rounds The sprint consisted of three knockout rounds lasting roughly three minutes each, requiring athletes to swap from ski boots to skis, remove “skins,” and stash equipment in a backpack before a fast descent [1][2]. Transitions proved decisive, as demonstrated by Harrop’s second‑transition mishap [2]. The format tests both aerobic fitness and technical agility, with gear changes occurring in seconds [1].
Weather and Spectator Response Shaped Event Atmosphere blizzard swept the Bormio venue during the competition, yet spectators braved the snowfall to fill the stands and create a lively atmosphere [2]. BBC commentator Matt Chilton praised the visual spectacle for both in‑person and television audiences [2]. The next event, a mixed relay scheduled for Saturday, will feature two‑lap teams of one man and one woman per nation [2].
Sources
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1.
AP: Ski Mountaineering Makes Olympic Debut with First Gold for Switzerland: Highlights the historic debut, detailed results—including Fatton’s gold time, Cardona Coll’s men’s win, Filippov’s neutral silver, and athlete quotes about pressure and family legacy .
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2.
BBC: Ski mountaineering debuts at 2026 Winter Olympics amid blizzard: Emphasizes the harsh weather, Spain’s first winter gold since 1972, transition errors affecting outcomes, fan atmosphere, and preview of the upcoming mixed relay .
Timeline
19th century – Ski mountaineering originates in the era before ski lifts, with athletes climbing and descending on skis, laying the foundation for the modern “skimo” discipline now debuting at the Olympics [1].
1998 – Snowboarding becomes the last Winter Olympic sport added before ski mountaineering, ending a 28‑year gap in program expansion that closes with skimo’s inclusion in 2026 [1].
1972 – Spain wins its previous Winter Olympic gold through Alpine skier Francisco Fernández Ochoa, a drought that lasts 54 years until 2026 [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut at the Milan‑Cortina Games in Bormio, with a sprint held under blizzard conditions that blends uphill climbing, a foot‑climb transition, and a fast downhill, testing rapid gear changes [1][2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Swiss skier Marianne Fatton captures the inaugural women’s sprint gold in 2:59.77, calling the victory “magical,” while France’s Emily Harrop takes silver after a costly transition error [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll wins the men’s sprint gold, delivering Spain’s first Winter Olympic gold since 1972; he says the medal feels “heavy,” and Russia’s neutral athlete Nikita Filippov earns silver, noting intense social‑media pressure [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Bronze medals go to Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez (women) despite competing with a torn ACL, and France’s Thibault Anselmet (men), underscoring the event’s physical demands [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Spectators brave heavy snowfall to fill the venue, creating a lively atmosphere praised by BBC commentator Matt Chilton for its visual appeal on television and in‑person [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – A mixed relay is scheduled, featuring one man and one woman per nation completing two laps each in a 30–40‑minute race, marking the next Olympic skimo competition [1].