Ski mountaineering made history on Thursday, as Switzerland's Marianne Fatton won the sport's first-ever Olympic gold after claiming the women's sprint title in Bormio, Italy.
Fatton finished with a time of 2:59.77 to beat favorite Emily Harrop of France. Harrop earned silver in 3:02.15, finishing 2.38 seconds behind, while Spain's Ana Alonso Rodriguez captured bronze with a time of 3:10.22.
Harrop had posted the fastest time heading into the final at 3:03.34 after winning both her heat and semifinal. But reigning world champion Fatton managed to capitalize on Harrop's slower transitions to win the final.
Ski mountaineering, often called "skimo," requires athletes to ascend mountains both on skis and on foot before a downhill race decides the winner. The women's sprint featured three ascent stages, with athletes starting with skis attached before removing them to tackle the course on foot. They subsequently reattach their skis for another ascent, later stripping off the skins for the final descent.
Snowy conditions at the Stelvio Ski Centre made conditions particularly challenging for athletes, as they showcased ski mountaineering to Olympic audiences for the first time. The International Ski Mountaineering Federation was founded in 2007 and gained IOC recognition in 2016.
"It's a magical day," the 30-year-old said after Thursday's win. "It's history for our sport, and for us as athletes, and it's wonderful."
