U.S. skimo duo celebrate surprise 4th-place finish at Olympics

Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith overcome long odds to compete at the Winter Games

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith of the United States finished a surprising fourth in the ski mountaineering mixed relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy. The pair, who only secured their Olympic spot about two months ago, were all smiles after the race, celebrating their unexpected success in the sport's Olympic debut.

Why it matters

Skimo, or ski mountaineering, is a relatively new and niche sport that is making its first appearance at the Winter Olympics. Gibson and Smith's strong performance helps raise the profile of the sport and shows that underdogs can compete at the highest level.

The details

Gibson, a former elite trail runner, and Smith, from Crested Butte, Colorado, only partnered up last summer to try and make the U.S. mixed relay team. Despite Gibson's extensive background in winter sports, skimo was not on her radar until Smith approached her. The pair won their first World Cup event in December, securing an Olympic spot. At the Games, they steadily moved up the leaderboard, at one point sitting in bronze medal position, before finishing fourth, just off the podium.

  • Gibson and Smith won a World Cup event in December 2025 to qualify for the Olympics.
  • The ski mountaineering mixed relay made its Olympic debut on February 21, 2026 in Bormio, Italy.

The players

Anna Gibson

A former elite trail runner who transitioned to ski mountaineering, making the U.S. Olympic team in the sport's debut at the 2026 Winter Games.

Cameron Smith

A skier from Crested Butte, Colorado who convinced Gibson to partner with him last summer to try and make the U.S. mixed relay team for the Olympics.

Murray Banks

A father-figure to Cameron Smith who helped raise money to support Smith's ski mountaineering ambitions.

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What they’re saying

“If we finished 12th there would have been so much to celebrate. We said no matter what, we'd be happy. Here we are skiing better than we could have imagined. We are thrilled with fourth.”

— Cameron Smith (San Francisco Chronicle)

“This has been such a journey for both of us to be here. It's been an incredible experience. There's nothing to complain about getting fourth place.”

— Anna Gibson (San Francisco Chronicle)

“I committed to making sure if Murray was living vicariously through me, then I sure as heck better make sure I compete in a way he would be proud of. So in truly every difficult moment ever since, I thought of him.”

— Cameron Smith (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The U.S. skimo team will look to build on their success at the Olympics and continue growing the sport's profile ahead of the 2030 Winter Games.

The takeaway

Gibson and Smith's surprise fourth-place finish in the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering shows that underdogs can compete at the highest level, and that the sport is gaining traction globally despite its niche status.