Oriol Cardona Coll's Olympic sprint win makes him a likely short-priced favourite in upcoming skimo events and boosts Spain in team/relay markets. Punters might back Cardona Coll outright or Spain in mixed-relay bets, while Marianne Fatton’s convincing women’s sprint victory strengthens Swiss odds in female sprint markets. Expect tightened betting lines for both names in World Cup and relay markets ahead of further events.
Cardona Coll ends Spain’s 54-year Winter Olympic gold drought with ski mountaineering sprint triumph
Spain finally celebrated Winter Olympic gold again when Oriol Cardona Coll won the men’s ski mountaineering sprint at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, the sport’s Olympic debut. Cardona Coll, twice world champion and pre-race favourite, converted pedigree into gold and delivered Spain’s first winter top podium since 1972.
Decisive sprint finish and podium places
Cardona Coll produced a composed performance on the sprint course to claim gold. Competing against a tight field, he held off Nikita Filippov, who took silver competing as a neutral, and France’s Thibault Anselmet, who rounded out the podium with bronze. The result marks a major moment for Spain and for the ski mountaineering community as the discipline makes its Olympic introduction.
Women’s sprint: Fatton dominates in heavy snowfall
Swiss world champion Marianne Fatton dominated the women’s sprint in Bormio, powering to victory in 2 minutes 59.77 seconds, 2.38 seconds clear of France’s Emily Harrop. Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez captured Spain’s first medal of these Games shortly before Cardona Coll’s victory, underscoring an unexpectedly strong Spanish showing.
Course conditions and event format
Heavy snowfall and a technical course in Bormio shaped both sprint races. Sprint-format skimo combines quick uphill skinning, a short boot-packed steps section where athletes shoulder skis, and a rapid downhill. The discipline tests transition speed as much as climbing and descending skill.
What is ski mountaineering and its Olympic future
Ski mountaineering, often called skimo, traces its roots to backcountry skiing and has surged in popularity, particularly in host nation Italy. Milan-Cortina 2026 introduced skimo to the Olympic programme with sprint and mixed relay events; organisers are aiming to keep it on the roster for 2030 in the French Alps. Some purists argue sprint formats depart from traditional long-format mountaineering races, which can last up to 90 minutes with multiple ascents.
Looking ahead: mixed relay and programme prospects
A mixed relay is scheduled next, offering teams a chance to capitalise on individual form.
Lindsey Vonn shares more heartbreaking news after Olympic crash
With skimo now on the Olympic stage and strong performances from athletes like Cardona Coll and Fatton, federations and organisers will be closely watching spectator and athlete engagement to determine the sport’s staying power in future Games.
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