BORMIO, Italy — France’s Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet secured a monumental victory in the inaugural Olympic mixed relay ski mountaineering event at the Milan Cortina Games on Saturday. The duo dominated the challenging Stelvio course with a commanding performance, finishing in 26 minutes and 57.44 seconds to claim the sport’s first Olympic mixed relay gold medal.
The French team established an early advantage that they maintained throughout the four-lap race, with Harrop setting a punishing pace on the initial leg. Their seamless transitions and technical mastery proved decisive on the demanding circuit that combined grueling ascents and technical descents. Anselmet’s confidence was evident as he began celebrating well before the finish line, raising his arms in triumph during the final descent.
Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler mounted a strong challenge, particularly during the final exchange where Fatton narrowed the gap significantly. However, Anselmet responded with exceptional composure on the decisive lap, ultimately securing victory by 11.86 seconds. The Spanish pairing of Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Oriol Cardona Coll captured bronze, adding to Cardona Coll’s individual sprint gold from Thursday’s historic competition.
American competitors Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith delivered a respectable performance, finishing just off the podium in fourth position. The event showcased ski mountaineering’s unique demands, requiring athletes to navigate multiple transitions between skin-equipped ascents and high-speed descents while carrying their equipment.
The mixed relay format featured alternating male and female athletes completing two laps each, with a total course length of 1,410 meters including approximately 137 meters of elevation gain. Athletes faced the additional challenge of staircase sections where they carried their skis while running in ski boots—a signature element of ski mountaineering competition.
This event marks the second medal ceremony for ski mountaineering following its formal inclusion in the Olympic program in 2021, solidifying the sport’s place in winter sports tradition with its blend of endurance, technical skill, and strategic teamwork.