Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet delivered a commanding performance to secure gold for France in the inaugural Olympic ski mountaineering mixed relay at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy.
Race Results and Standings
The French duo clocked a winning time of 26 minutes, 57.44 seconds. Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler earned silver, trailing by 11.86 seconds, while Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Oriol Cardona Coll took bronze.
Harrop’s Dominant Start
Harrop, a 28-year-old four-time World Cup overall champion born in the French Alps to English parents, set the pace on the opening leg. Fresh off a silver medal in the individual sprint, she established a strong lead ahead of sprint gold medalist Alonso Rodriguez and Fatton.
Anselmet Seals the Victory
Anselmet held the advantage through his leg, fending off challenges from Kistler and men’s sprint champion Cardona Coll to cross the finish line first.
Athlete Reactions
“It’s a crazy feeling. The Olympics are the top of any athlete’s dream,” Harrop stated. “To be in the top place today with such a strong field out there, it’s just crazy.”
She revealed their aggressive strategy: “We aimed to start off hard and put everyone in difficulties. But that includes ourselves! I knew it would be a hard race until the end.”
Event Format in Ski Mountaineering Debut
The 12 mixed teams tackled two ascents, a steep section of steps carrying skis on their backs, and two descents. Efficient transitions proved crucial, as athletes removed reusable ‘skins’ from their skis for optimal downhill speed. This lung-busting relay highlighted the full demands of the sport making its Olympic bow at the Milan-Cortina Games.
