US Ski Mountaineers Make History at Olympics Despite European Dominance

Two American athletes are breaking new ground in ski mountaineering at the Milano Cortina Olympics, competing in a sport traditionally dominated by European nations. Anna Gibson and Cam Smith made history by earning the US its first-ever World Cup victory in the discipline and are now preparing for Saturday's mixed relay race.

BORMIO, Italy – Two American athletes are making their mark in ski mountaineering at the Milano Cortina Olympics, challenging the long-standing European supremacy in this winter sport ahead of Saturday’s mixed relay competition.

Anna Gibson and Cam Smith have already carved out a place in sporting history after delivering the United States its inaugural World Cup victory in ski mountaineering this past December, earning their Olympic berths in the process.

The discipline, which traces its origins to alpine military exercises, has traditionally been the domain of European competitors in World Cup events. However, the sport’s new Olympic status has sparked increased international participation, with American athletes leading the charge from non-European nations.

Smith brings years of experience in the sport to the Games, though December marked her debut World Cup appearance, and the Olympic sprint represented just her fourth official competition. Gibson’s journey is even more remarkable – she transitioned from trail running to join the US national team only last September.

Austrian competitor Johanna Hiemer remarked in December about Gibson’s rapid emergence in the ski mountaineering world: “Within one summer everything changed, and we always said it wouldn’t happen overnight but it proved the opposite.”

Sarah Cookler, who leads USA SkiMo as Head of Sport, expressed optimism in December about the Olympic inclusion boosting the sport’s profile domestically. “It’s really only a matter of time before we can attract the strongest athletes for this and be really competitive,” Cookler stated.

Both American competitors advanced to the semifinals in Thursday’s Olympic sprint events as “lucky losers” from their initial heats, with Gibson finishing ninth overall and Smith placing 11th.

“Hopefully the U.S. can kind of continue to improve and climb and be on par with the Europeans in the near future,” Cookler said in December. She brought on Italian coach Oscar Angeloni in 2024, partly to adopt training methods similar to those used by European squads.

Gibson noted the unique experience of competing in Bormio, where ski mountaineering enjoys widespread recognition and understanding among locals and spectators alike.

“You can feel that SkiMo is just part of the culture. It’s very normal. It’s very understood here,” Gibson explained. “To not have to explain what it is to people here and just know that there are fans who have been supporters of the sport for a long time is really special.”

Regardless of their Saturday finish, both Smith and Gibson express satisfaction with their Olympic showing thus far.

“The sprint is definitely not my best event, so I’m just taking it as a really positive sign for Saturday and the mixed relay. It’s a great sign for Anna and I that we’ve made it as far as we did in the sprint,” Smith commented Friday.