Skimo Debuts: Vonn-Shiffrin Rivalry Highlights Upcoming Olympics
Kirsty Coventry made history as the first female president of the International Olympic Committee when elected in March. As the Milan Cortina Winter Games kick off on Friday, she highlights the event as “the most gender-balanced in history.” This balance is evident in the introduction of new events and changes that feature more female athletes.
Exciting New Events at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Several groundbreaking events are set to debut at the upcoming Winter Olympics:
- Women’s Doubles Luge: Scheduled for Feb. 11, this new event adds to the women’s luge competition.
- Women’s Large Hill Ski Jumping: Set for Feb. 15, this marks the first Olympic appearance for female ski jumpers on a large hill.
- Mixed-Gender Ski Mountaineering: Ski mountaineering, also known as skimo, will debut its events on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21.
- Mixed Team Events in Skeleton: A mixed-gender skeleton event will take place on Feb. 15, featuring one male and one female competitor.
- Dual Moguls in Freestyle Skiing: This new event will compete on Feb. 14 for women and Feb. 15 for men, featuring athletes racing in adjacent lanes.
Ski Mountaineering: The New Frontier
Ski mountaineering, commonly referred to as skimo, involves athletes climbing mountains and skiing down. Events will take place in Bormio, approximately 125 miles northeast of Milan. The U.S. team, with Cameron Smith and Anna Gibson, secured the last Olympic spot in this event. Smith expressed the team’s determination, stating that qualifying was a major goal for years and now they aspire for podium finishes.
The Vonn-Shiffrin Rivalry
Another highlight of the Winter Olympics will be the potential pairing of American ski stars Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin. Should Vonn recover from her recent ACL injury, the two could team up for the Alpine skiing combined event. Vonn, at 41, won gold in the downhill event at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Shiffrin, now 30, made history as the youngest Olympic champion in slalom at Sochi in 2014.
Changes in Team Events
In addition to individual competitions, Alpine skiing will introduce a team event combining one downhill run and one slalom run. The women will race on Feb. 10, while the men’s combined event occurs on Feb. 9 in Bormio.
A New Era for Female Athletes
The enhancements in the Olympic program reflect a commitment to gender equality and increased participation of women in sports. With the debut of varied team formats and mixed-gender events, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina promises to deliver memorable moments for both athletes and fans alike.
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