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What is skimo? Explaining the new Olympic sport of ski mountaineering
The new Olympic discipline features sprint heats lasting about 3 minutes and a mixed relay, highlighting the sport's Alpine roots and rising popularity, officials said.
- On Feb. 19, ski mountaineering debuts at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, with sprints on Feb. 19 and mixed relays on Feb. 21.
- Given the sport's deep Alpine roots, the IOC approved skimo for 2026 after a successful Youth Olympic debut and a February 2025 Bormio test event, confirming readiness.
- The sprint format features heats of six athletes, lasting about three minutes, with a lap combining ascent on skins, a 70m downhill, and roughly 230 feet elevation gain.
- National teams such as the U.S. and Australia gain new Olympic pathways, with Lara Hamilton joining Phillip Bellingham and Cam Smith and Anna Gibson qualifying after the Dec. 2025 World Cup.
- Although only sprint and relay are medal events this year, the sport's deep Alpine roots over 100 years and more than 600,000 ski tourers in Germany signal growth potential.
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Rockford's Cam Smith leads ski mountaineering into Olympic debut
Cam Smith, a proud Rockford native, is set to make history as ski mountaineering debuts at the Olympics this Saturday. From running at Guilford High to conquering mountains, his journey is an inspiring testament to perseverance and hometown pride.
For the first time, ski mountaineering, also known as "Skimo" is part of the Olympic programme: from the Germans, only Tatjana Paller fights for the finale - where she starts a big catch-up after a weak start.
For the first time, ski mountaineering is part of the Olympic programme: Tatjana Paller makes it straight to the final.
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Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 38%
12%
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