Ski Mountaineering to Debut at 2026 Winter Olympics
Ski mountaineering, a sport that has been a part of the Winter Olympics for a century, is set to make a return as an official event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The decision was made during the 138th Plenary Session of the International Olympic Committee, with the sport being included in the event settings for the Winter Games.
Ski mountaineering, which involves climbing, equipment switching, and descending through a flag gate, has been described as both familiar and unfamiliar to the Chinese. The traditional skiing methods of ethnic minorities in Northeast China bear similarities to the ski mountaineering projects. The sport also has roots in the alpine snowfields and has been introduced relatively late as a professional sport in China.
Since the establishment of the national team in 2022, more than ten provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities have established professional sports teams for ski mountaineering. The Chinese team made a breakthrough at the 2023 World Ski Mountaineering Championships, winning three gold medals. The country is hoping to continue this success at the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Yuzhen Ramu, a talent from Tibet, has been a standout in the ski mountaineering competitions. Hailing from an area with an average altitude of about 3,600 meters, she has excelled in the sport due to her physical fitness gained from climbing mountains with her parents as a child. The national team is optimistic about winning medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics and is determined to make ski mountaineering a popular sport in China.
The inclusion of ski mountaineering as an official event in the Winter Olympics signifies a major milestone for the sport, opening up more opportunities for athletes and increasing its popularity on an international level. With the support of the national team and the rise of promising talent, China’s ski mountaineering team is poised to make an impact at the upcoming Winter Olympics.