France Wins Gold as Ski Mountaineering Debuts at Olympics

A brand new Olympic sport just crowned its first champions, and the debut didn't disappoint.

Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet won gold for France in the mixed relay ski mountaineering event on Saturday in Bormio, Italy. The pair clocked 26 minutes and 57 seconds in a race that combined two grueling ascents, sections on foot with skis strapped to their backs, and two rapid descents down the mountain.

Switzerland's Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler claimed silver just 12 seconds behind, while Spain's Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Oriol Cardona Coll took bronze. The tight margins showed just how competitive this historic Olympic debut turned out to be.

Harrop, born in the French Alps to English parents, dominated her opening leg. She had already won silver in the individual sprint event just days earlier, and she carried that momentum into the relay by building a healthy lead over her Swiss and Spanish rivals.

Her teammate Anselmet maintained that advantage throughout his leg, skiing with smooth, rhythmic movements that made the intense physical effort look almost effortless. Drama struck when Spain's Alonso Rodriguez missed a transition point and received a three-second penalty, shaking up the podium positions.

The race turned into a nail-biter on the final legs. Switzerland's Kistler pushed hard and cut France's lead to just eight seconds at one point, but Anselmet found another gear and pulled away.

Why This Inspires

Ski mountaineering represents something special for winter sports. While downhill skiing captures speed and figure skating showcases artistry, this new Olympic addition celebrates pure human endurance and mountain grit.

The sport requires athletes to climb steep slopes with climbing skins on their skis, transition quickly at checkpoints, and then race downhill at full speed. It's a test of technique, stamina, and mental toughness that pushes competitors to their absolute limits.

For communities in mountain regions around the world, seeing their local passion project reach the Olympic stage validates years of dedication. Harrop's journey from growing up in the French Alps to Olympic gold shows how regional sports can find global audiences when given the spotlight.

Anselmet's face told the whole story as he crossed the finish line with one fist raised in triumph and his poles clutched in the other hand. Pure joy radiated from the exhausted athlete who had just made history in his sport's biggest moment yet.

France now holds the distinction of winning the very first Olympic gold medal in ski mountaineering, a title that will be remembered long after these Milan-Cortina Games conclude.