For the first time in Olympic history, ski mountaineering, also known as SkiMo, was included in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The sport featured three medal events: men’s sprint, women’s sprint, and a mixed relay. Two other proposed events, the men’s and women’s individual races, were not approved for the final program.
Ski mountaineering is a fast-paced and physically demanding sport. Athletes sprint up a mountain wearing skis, then switch to running without skis, remove the “skins” from their skis, put the skis back on, and race down the mountain all in roughly three minutes. This combination of skiing, running, and quick equipment changes makes the sport unique and challenging.
Fans and sports commentators were impressed by the debut. Rodger Sherman, writing in his Olympics newsletter, said the first day “ruled,” praising the energy of the crowd and the unusual nature of the sport. He added that for fans of unusual sports, it was “weird as hell” but fun to watch.
Dan Wolken from Yahoo highlighted how exciting it was to see such a rare sport on the world stage. He noted that it was interesting to learn how athletes discovered ski mountaineering and how much it meant to them to compete in the Olympics.
Despite being new and unfamiliar to many viewers, ski mountaineering offered a fresh and thrilling addition to the Winter Games. Its debut not only tested the speed and endurance of athletes but also introduced audiences worldwide to a unique winter sport. The Olympic SkiMo events combined adventure, strategy, and extreme athletic skill, leaving fans eager to see what the sport will bring in future Games.
This first Olympic SkiMo competition was a memorable highlight of the 2026 Winter Olympics, showing that even the most unusual sports can capture attention and excitement.