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Switzerland’s Fatton Wins First Olympic Ski Mountaineering Gold as Spain Claims Men’s Title

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Ski mountaineering debuts in Milan‑Cortina amid blizzard The sport, abbreviated “skimo,” entered the Olympic program on Thursday, Feb 19, 2026, at the Bormio venue of the Milan‑Cortina Games despite heavy snowfall that forced spectators to brace the elements[1][2]. It is the first Winter Olympic addition since snowboarding in 1998 and traces its roots to 19th‑century back‑country skiing[3]. The debut featured both individual sprints and a mixed relay scheduled for the following weekend[4].

Sprint format demands rapid transitions and three‑minute rounds Competitors completed three knockout rounds of roughly three minutes each, alternating between uphill climbing with “skins,” a foot‑only ascent, and a final downhill ski run[1][3]. Gear changes required athletes to detach skis, stash them in a backpack, run up stairs, then re‑attach skis and apply grip‑skin fabric before the descent[3]. The course includes a diamond‑gate obstacle section and two mandatory transition zones that often decide the outcome[2][3].

Swiss Fatton captures women’s gold, Harrop takes silver Marianne Fatton of Switzerland, the reigning world champion, won the inaugural women’s sprint in 2 minutes 59.77 seconds, edging France’s Emily Harrop by 2.38 seconds[1]. Fatton described the victory as “magical” and noted her mother, 1992 Olympic cross‑country skier Anna Janouskova, watched from the stands[1]. Harrop’s silver followed a costly transition error that cost her precious seconds[2].

Spain’s Cardona Coll wins men’s gold, ends 54‑year drought Oriol Cardona Coll secured Spain’s first Winter Olympic gold since alpine skier Francisco Fernández Ochoa’s 1972 triumph, finishing the men’s sprint 20 minutes after the women’s race[2]. Russia’s Nikita Filippov, competing as a neutral athlete, earned silver—the first medal for a neutral competitor on Italian soil[1]. Bronze went to Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, who raced with a torn ACL, and France’s Thibault Anselmet[1].

Mixed relay set for Feb 21, expands skimo Olympic program The next event, a mixed relay featuring one man and one woman per nation completing four alternating laps, is slated for Saturday, Feb 21[2][3]. The relay will showcase fast‑paced ascents and descents, with each lap containing two climbs and two descents[3]. Team USA will be represented by Cam Smith and Anna Gibson, who qualified through recent World Cup success[4].

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Timeline

Prehistoric era – Early Scandinavians use skis for transportation, hunting and survival in snowy terrain, laying the foundation for modern ski‑mountaineering techniques that later spread to the Alps. [11]

Late 1800s – English travelers and Alpine mountaineers adopt ski‑on‑foot ascents in the Alps, establishing the civilian practice of climbing on skis before descending, a direct ancestor of today’s ski‑mountaineering sport. [11][8]

1924 – Skijoring appears as the first demonstration sport at the Chamonix Winter Games, marking the Olympic debut of a discipline that blends skiing with animal‑pull power and foreshadowing future hybrid winter events. [4]

1924‑1948 – Military patrol events, the forerunner of modern ski mountaineering, feature in several Winter Olympics, highlighting the sport’s military roots before being replaced by biathlon. [11]

1933 – The Italian Trofeo Mezzalama launches, becoming one of the earliest organized ski‑mountaineering competitions and cementing the sport’s competitive tradition. [11]

1943 – Switzerland’s Patrouille des Glaciers begins, further institutionalizing high‑altitude ski‑mountaineering races and influencing later World Cup formats. [11]

1998 – Snowboarding enters the Olympic program in Nagano, the first new Winter sport since 1992 and a precedent for later additions like ski‑mountaineering. [6]

2018 – Snowboarding big‑air debuts at the PyeongChang Games, expanding the freestyle repertoire and demonstrating the IOC’s willingness to add extreme‑jump events. [7][9]

2020 – Ski mountaineering makes its Youth Olympic debut in Lausanne, proving its appeal to younger athletes and paving the way for senior Olympic inclusion. [8]

July 2021 – The International Olympic Committee officially approves ski mountaineering for the 2026 Winter Games, confirming its status as a full Olympic discipline. [8][11]

Oct 2021 – Bormio’s Stelvio Ski Centre is selected as the venue for Olympic ski‑mountaineering events, securing a historic Alpine setting for the sport’s debut. [8][11]

Dec 2025 – The IOC announces that ski mountaineering will debut at Milan‑Cortina 2026 with sprint races and a mixed‑gender relay, emphasizing the Games’ goal to diversify winter sports while honoring alpine heritage. [8][11]

Feb 5‑9, 2026 – The Olympic big‑air snowboarding competition runs at Livigno Snow Park, where athletes perform three runs each and the two best scores count, showcasing the sport’s most spectacular tricks. [6][7]

Feb 8, 2026 – Parallel giant slalom snowboarding takes place, testing racers’ speed and precision on a side‑by‑side course. [6]

Feb 11‑13, 2026 – The halfpipe event unfolds, with Chloe Kim aiming for a historic third consecutive gold, underscoring her quest for an unprecedented record. [6]

Feb 13 & 15, 2026 – Snowboardcross heats occur, delivering head‑to‑head downhill battles that highlight the sport’s high‑risk, high‑adrenaline appeal. [6]

Feb 16‑18, 2026 – Slopestyle competitions showcase creative rail and jump tricks, rounding out the park program at Livigno. [6]

Feb 19, 2026 – Ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut in Bormio amid a blizzard; Marianne Fatton wins women’s sprint gold in 2:59.77, calling the day “magical”[5], while Oriol Cardona Coll secures Spain’s first men’s sprint gold and says the medal feels heavy[5]; Russian neutral athlete Nikita Filippov earns silver and notes intense social‑media pressure[5]; BBC commentator Matt Chilton praises the event’s visual spectacle for spectators and TV audiences[1].

Feb 19, 2026 – The sprint format features three knockout rounds of roughly three minutes each, with rapid gear changes between skins, boots and skis that decide outcomes, as described in the event rules. [1][2][3][5]

Feb 21, 2026 – The mixed relay, featuring one man and one woman per nation completing four alternating laps, is scheduled to determine the first Olympic team medals in ski mountaineering. [1][2][3][5][8][11]

2034 – Skijoring advocates, including Loren Zhimanskova, target a demonstration or opening‑ceremony appearance at the Salt Lake City Winter Games, hoping the sport’s American‑spirit symbolism secures Olympic exposure. [4]

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