The sport of ski mountaineering marked its inaugural appearance at the Winter Olympics on Thursday, declaring Marianne Fatton of Switzerland as its first champion at the Milano-Cortina Games. Fatton conquered the sprint course, which included uphill and downhill sections, finishing in 2 minutes and 59.77 seconds. She outpaced Emily Harrop of France by 2.38 seconds, while Ana Alonso Rodriguez of Spain clinched the bronze despite competing with a torn ACL.
Expressing her joy, Fatton, also the current world champion, described the day as magical and historic for the sport and its athletes. In the men’s sprint event, Oriol Cardona Coll of Spain claimed victory, with Nikita Filippov securing silver as the first individual neutral athlete to medal in Italy, and Thibault Anselmet of France taking home the bronze.
Commonly known as “skimo,” ski mountaineering was introduced to the Olympic program in 2021, with the falling snow providing a picturesque setting for this Alpine discipline with origins dating back to the late 19th century. The pressure and suspense of the competitions were acknowledged by the athletes, with Fatton and Cardona Coll shouldering the weight of being the first-ever Olympic champions in their sport.
Filippov shared his sentiments on the importance of the day and the pressure he felt, emphasizing the realization of his childhood dream. The endurance and challenges faced during the three intense rounds of competition were evident, testing the athletes’ stamina.
Fatton’s swift transitions were instrumental in securing her gold medal, reflecting her mother’s Olympic history in cross-country skiing. The athletes cherished the experience of competing in front of the crowd, highlighting the significance of the Olympic rings at the venue.
The ski mountaineering course featured a variety of obstacles, including a diamond-shaped pattern and stairs that required athletes to remove their skis and climb with their boots before continuing the sprint. The event culminated in a thrilling descent down the Stelvio course towards the finish line.
Despite facing setbacks, Alonso Rodriguez persevered to compete after a serious injury, emphasizing the importance of taking each step forward. The final event in ski mountaineering is a mixed team relay scheduled for Saturday.