Ski mountaineering is the standout newcomer to the Winter Olympic programme. After its debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne 2020, its inclusion in Milano Cortina 2026 - and its elevation to full Olympic status - was officially approved by the IOC Executive Board in July 2021.
This demanding sport combines uphill climbing with downhill skiing, with athletes relying on specialised skins, boots, and bindings to navigate the terrain. Three events will take place at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio: men’s and women’s individual sprints, and a mixed relay, in which one woman and one man from each nation alternate legs throughout the race.
Italy enters the Games as one of the world’s leading nations in the discipline, having achieved consistent success over the past two decades across all major international competitions.