Ski Mountaineering Makes Olympic Debut in Snowy Italy

The new Winter Games sport draws a passionate crowd despite its counterintuitive nature.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Ski mountaineering, known as "skimo" to enthusiasts, made its Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Bormio, Italy. Despite the sport's obscurity and the challenging weather conditions, thousands of fans packed the grandstands to witness the spectacle of athletes trekking uphill on skis and then skiing back down. While the American competitors were relative newcomers to the sport, the athletes from ski-centric countries like Switzerland, France, and Spain dominated the competition.

Why it matters

The addition of ski mountaineering to the Olympic program highlights the Winter Games' efforts to incorporate more niche and unconventional winter sports. While the sport may seem counterintuitive to some, it has a passionate global following and provides an opportunity for athletes from non-traditional winter sport countries to compete on the biggest stage.

The details

In the Olympic debut, athletes had to navigate a course that involved skiing uphill, negotiating obstacles, and then skiing back down. The event was held in a heavy snowstorm, adding to the dramatic visuals. Many of the competitors, including the American duo of Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith, were relative newcomers to the sport but had found their way to it through unique paths, such as Gibson's background in track and field and Smith's introduction through a backcountry ski race.

  • The ski mountaineering events took place on February 19, 2026 in Bormio, Italy.
  • Gibson and Smith qualified for the Olympics by securing the North American slot in a race last December.

The players

Anna Gibson

A 26-year-old American athlete who was making her Olympic debut in ski mountaineering after previously competing in track and field.

Cameron Smith

An American ski mountaineering competitor who got into the sport a dozen years ago after being convinced by his sister to try a backcountry ski race.

Oriol Cardona Coll

A Spanish ski mountaineering athlete who won gold in the men's sprint event.

Ana Alonso Rodriguez

A Spanish ski mountaineering athlete who won bronze in the women's sprint event.

Lara Hamilton

An Australian ski mountaineering competitor who had previously tried and failed to make the Olympics in Nordic skiing, track, and surfing before finding success in skimo.

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What they’re saying

“We love winter, so I'm here for it.”

— Anna Gibson (Yahoo Sports)

“I heard it was going to be in the Olympics, and I very quickly started practicing. Always had the dream to go to the Olympics. I just failed in three different sports until I got one.”

— Lara Hamilton (Yahoo Sports)

“It was super fun to be part of this historic moment and help introduce our sport to the world. You can feel the excitement everyone has to see skimo. So many people worked so hard to make this happen. Everything we do from here is just icing on the cake.”

— Cameron Smith (Yahoo Sports)

“I think you can feel that skimo is just part of the culture here. It's very normal. It's very understood here, and to not have to explain what it is to people here and to know there are fans who have been supporters of this sport for a long time, it's really special.”

— Anna Gibson (Yahoo Sports)

“Finally we get to play in the major leagues.”

— Oriol Cardona Coll (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The debut of ski mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics showcased a unique and unconventional sport that has a passionate global following, particularly in ski-centric countries. While the American competitors were relative newcomers, the event highlighted the sport's ability to provide opportunities for athletes from non-traditional winter sport backgrounds to compete on the biggest stage.