For the first time since Skeleton returned in 2002, the Winter Olympics is welcoming a brand new sport. Ski Mountaineering (Skimo) finally hits the Olympic stage this week at the legendary Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio. Forget the leisurely skin tracks you might know from backcountry touring; this is a lung-busting, high-octane race where transitions are measured in seconds and heart rates rarely drop below maximum.
The Disciplines: What to Watch
Unlike the endurance-heavy "individual" races seen in the World Cup, the Olympic format is stripped down for maximum speed and spectator excitement. There are two medal events:
A frantic 3-4 minute race that packs everything into a single loop. Athletes start with a steep skin up, transition to "boot-packing" (skis on backpack) to run up stairs, transition back to skins for the final climb, rip skins off at the top, and descend through giant slalom gates. It is a knockout tournament format: Heats, Semis, and Finals.
Teams of one man and one woman. Each athlete completes the course twice in an alternating relay format (Woman → Man → Woman → Man). The strategy here is brutal; while your partner races, you have about 3 minutes to recover before going all-out again.
The "Fourth Discipline": Transitions
The unique drama of Skimo lies in the transitions. Athletes must peel adhesive skins off their skis, stow them, and lock their boots into "downhill mode" in seconds—often while gasping for air. A fumble here, or dropping a piece of gear outside the designated box, results in time penalties that can cost a medal.
Athletes to Watch
- Thibault Anselmet (FRA): The dominant force in the World Cup circuit, he enters as the favorite for the Men's Sprint.
- Emily Harrop (FRA): A former alpine skier turned skimo powerhouse, she is technically flawless on the descents.
- Oriol Cardona Coll (ESP): Known as the fastest starter in the world, he is the specialist to beat in the Sprint format.
- Michele Boscacci (ITA): The local hero. Born in the region, he will have the deafening support of the home crowd in Bormio.
- Team USA: Keep an eye on the duo of Cameron Smith and Anna Gibson in the Mixed Relay, who have been rapidly closing the gap on the Europeans.
This debut is a nod to the roots of winter sports—skiing as a means of travel—modernized for the TikTok generation. It is fast, telegenic, and easy to understand: First across the line wins.
With the Alps providing a stunning backdrop and the Italian "Tifosi" (fans) expected to pack the finish area, Thursday's Sprint finals are set to be one of the highlights of the 2026 Games.
