Spain celebrated a historic achievement at the Winter Olympics 2026 as Oriol Cardona Coll won the first-ever gold medal in the men’s Ski Mountaineering sprint. Competing in snowy and challenging conditions, the 32-year-old delivered a powerful performance to secure victory in the Olympic debut of the sport.
Cardona showed excellent speed in the uphill section and maintained control during the descent, finishing ahead of strong competition from Italy and France.
Men’s Sprint Final Results
| Position | Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Oriol Cardona Coll | Spain | 2:45.87 |
| Silver | Federico Nicolini | Italy | +0.32 sec |
| Bronze | Mathieu Giraud | France | +0.51 sec |
This win is Spain’s first Olympic medal in Ski Mountaineering and a major milestone for the country in winter sports.
¡ORIOL CARDONA ES CAMPEÓN OLÍMPICO! ¡ESPAÑA ES DE ORO! 🇪🇸🥇
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) February 19, 2026
El esquiador español no falla y logra el segundo oro español en unos Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno. ENORME.#MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/Hnasu9QqL6
Race Highlights and Conditions
The competition took place under light snowfall, making the surface slippery and increasing the difficulty level. Several athletes struggled with balance during transitions, while the fast and technical course tested endurance and precision.
🥇 Oriol CARDONA COLL makes history as the very first man to win an Olympic ski mountaineering title 🤩
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 19, 2026
His #Gold in the ski mountaineering men's sprint is Spain’s first gold medal at the Winter Olympics since 1972 🔥
That’s a double whammy for the history books at… pic.twitter.com/niOH9qtiyj
Cardona, a recent World Cup champion, dedicated the win to the global Skimo community, calling the Olympic debut a proud moment for all athletes in the sport.
Also see: Ski Mountaineering Debuts at Winter Olympics 2026 as Marianne Fatton Wins First Women’s Sprint Gold
About Ski Mountaineering at the Olympics
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| First Olympic Appearance | 2026 Winter Olympics |
| Event Format | Climb + Transition + Downhill |
| Sprint Duration | Around 3 minutes |
| Total Athletes | 36 |
| Objective | Speed, endurance, and technical control |
The inclusion of Ski Mountaineering reflects the Olympic movement’s focus on modern, high-energy, and adventure-based sports.
Also Read: Alysa Liu Targets Historic Medal to End USA 20-Year Drought in Women’s Figure Skating
Growing Popularity After Olympic Debut
Following its debut, Ski Mountaineering has gained strong attention worldwide. Social media clips of the races have gone viral, with the hashtag #SkimoDebut trending as fans discovered the fast and exciting format.
With strong performances and close finishes, the men’s event showed the sport’s competitive depth. As more countries invest in training and development, Ski Mountaineering is expected to grow rapidly in future Winter Games.
The successful debut in Livigno has set the stage for Ski Mountaineering to become a regular highlight of the Winter Olympics in the years ahead.
