Ski Mountaineering Makes Olympic Debut

- The Olympic program for ski mountaineering includes three medal events: a men's sprint, a women's sprint, and a mixed-gender relay. The individual sprint races are short and fast-paced, lasting around three minutes and covering an ascent of up to 70 meters. - A total of 36 athletes, with an equal split of 18 men and 18 women, are competing in the inaugural Olympic ski mountaineering events. - The competition format for the sprint involves a time trial for seeding, followed by heats of six racers competing head-to-head to advance to the final. The mixed relay features teams of one man and one woman, with each athlete completing two loops of a longer course. - All ski mountaineering events are being held at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, the same venue hosting the men's Alpine skiing events. - The sport's roots can be traced back to military patrol competitions, with a similar event being part of the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924. Over time, this evolved into modern biathlon, while ski mountaineering continued to develop separately. - Key athletes to watch in the men's events include Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll and France's Thibaut Anselmet. In the women's competition, Emily Harrop of France and Switzerland's Marianne Fatton are among the top contenders. - During the races, competitors utilize specialized equipment, including skis with removable "skins" on the bottom that provide grip for ascending snowy slopes. For steeper sections, athletes may remove their skis and carry them on their backs in a "bootpacking" segment.