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last mo.

Ski Mountaineering Makes Its Olympic Debut at Milan-Cortina in Sprint and Mixed Relay

The IOC is unveiling the alpine endurance sport in a compact, TV-ready format with a tightly capped field.

Competitors are in action during the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup Comapedrosa Vertical Race Senior Men in Arinsal, Andorra, on January 21, 2024.
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Overview

  • Competition is set for Bormio’s Stelvio Ski Centre with men’s and women’s sprints on Feb. 19 and a mixed relay on Feb. 21.
  • Only 36 athletes (18 men, 18 women) will race in the sport’s first Olympic appearance, limited to sprint events and a mixed relay.
  • The sprint lasts about three to four minutes and combines an uphill on skins, a bootpack section, and a fast descent of roughly 230 feet of vertical gain.
  • The mixed relay features one woman and one man per nation, each completing two ascents and descents in alternating laps; Team USA qualified through Cam Smith and Anna Gibson.
  • Contenders include Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll, Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton and France’s Emily Harrop, with sold-out tickets and U.S. coverage on USA Network, Peacock and NBC Olympics.