Ski Mountaineering Makes Olympic Debut in Milan-Cortina

Fans packed into snowy Bormio, Italy on Thursday to witness something that hadn't happened at the Winter Olympics in nearly three decades: a completely new sport. Ski mountaineering, affectionately called "skimo," made its long-awaited Olympic debut to massive applause and curiosity.

Switzerland's Marianne Fatton claimed the women's gold medal in the sprint event, adding Olympic glory to her world championship title. "It's a magical day. It's history for our sport, and for us as athletes, and it's wonderful," she said through tears of joy after crossing the finish line.

Spain celebrated even harder when Oriol Cardona Coll took the men's gold medal, their first Winter Olympic gold in 54 years. The last time Spain stood atop a Winter Olympics podium was 1972 when Alpine skier Francisco Fernandez Ochoa won at Sapporo.

The sport itself is a fascinating test of endurance and skill. Athletes sprint uphill with special skins on their skis for traction, navigate obstacles, then remove their skis and climb stairs on foot before skiing back to the summit. After tearing off the skins in a crucial transition, they race downhill to the finish line, all in about three minutes.

France's Emily Harrop, who has English parents but chose to represent France, took silver in the women's event despite a tricky transition where her skins got caught. "When I look back to when I started the sport, it wasn't even on the programme," she said. "I had an Olympic dream when I was an Alpine skier, and then when I stopped, it was just game over. So now to be here on this stage is mad."

The sport's roots stretch back to the 19th century, long before ski lifts existed. Back then, mountaineers had to climb peaks on skis simply to get around.

Why This Inspires

Despite brutal blizzard conditions, the nearly sold-out crowd created an electric atmosphere. BBC commentator Matt Chilton noted that the sport proved immediately captivating: "Televisually, it is superb. For the fans, they can see everything from the grandstand. They don't miss a moment."

The quick pace and visible effort from athletes drew fans in instantly, generating the kind of excitement that makes Olympic debuts memorable. Spectators braved the relentless snowfall to witness history and cheered every grueling step and thrilling descent.

The Olympic program will continue Saturday with a mixed relay event where one man and one woman from each nation complete two laps each in races lasting 30 to 40 minutes.

After 28 years without a new winter sport, the Olympics found a winner that honors mountain heritage while delivering modern athletic drama.