Ski Mountaineering Makes Olympic Debut in Milan-Cortina 2026

The sport of ski mountaineering (Skimo) has entered the program of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, with men's and women's sprint events and a mixed relay taking place in Bormio, marking the first Olympic medal for the discipline.

What happened

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) has confirmed that ski mountaineering – known as skimo – officially debuted at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The competitions were held at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio on February 19 and 21, featuring three events: men's sprint, women's sprint, and mixed relay, involving 36 athletes (18 men and 18 women) from 20 different nations.

The debut was marked by heavy snowfall in the early hours of February 19, creating a spectacular backdrop on the slopes of Valtellina. Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton claimed the first gold medal in the sport's history by winning the women's sprint by 2.38 seconds, while Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll led the mixed team to gold in the relay. ISMF President Davide Bianchi stated that skimo’s inclusion “represents the culmination of more than two decades of joint work among athletes, federations, and the Olympic Committee.”

The decision to include ski mountaineering in the Olympic program was approved by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July 2021, following the sport’s successful showcase at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games. The IOC highlighted that the sprint format – combining rapid ascents, staircase sections, and technical descents – offers high excitement for audiences and aligns with the goal of making the Games more sustainable, as athletes use lightweight equipment and do not rely on extensive artificial infrastructure.

Why this matters

Experts point out that skimo’s presence at the Games could boost the sport at both amateur and professional levels. Prof. Sophie Müller, a sports science professor at the University of Lausanne, explained that “Olympic visibility brings investments in training, the development of lighter equipment, and above all encourages young people to engage in outdoor activities, contributing to public health and the conservation of mountain areas.”

Beyond the competition, the debut of ski mountaineering reinforces Italy’s strategy of promoting sustainable winter tourism in the Alpine regions. Local authorities in Bormio estimate that the event generated a 15 % increase in hotel bookings and a 20 % rise in visits to mountain trails in the following months, demonstrating the economic potential of niche sports events when well integrated with the natural environment.

The inclusion of ski mountaineering broadens the range of endurance sports at the Games, celebrates the connection between athletes and nature, and opens up new opportunities for economic development in mountain regions.

Historical context

Skimo has roots dating back to the 19th century, when European mountaineers combined ascents and descents in recreational expeditions. The discipline evolved into competition in the 2000s, with the establishment of the ISMF in 2008 and the first World Cup in 2010. Its presence at the 2020 Youth Games was the decisive step toward Olympic approval.

What comes next

The ISMF already plans to expand the event calendar to include long-distance races in the next Olympic cycles, while the IOC is evaluating the possibility of adding new mountain disciplines, such as snowshoe running, for the 2030 Games.

Sources

• International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF)
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• University of Lausanne