A skimo-moment, the sport debuts in the Milan Cortina Olympics

Mens Skimo. Not only the first ever time for the sport in the Olympics, but the first medal won by an AIN competitor in the Milan Cortina Olympics. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

CORTINA, Italy — Everyone was on their feet, and not just because their seats were filled with snow at the skimo venue in Milano Cortina. The sport’s Olympic debut has arrived, and the atmosphere made it clear: this was a win all around.

History is in the making for the only two American athletes who qualified to race in the sport, Cam Smith and Anna Gibson. Both advanced out of the morning individual sprint heats and into the afternoon semifinals.

Gibson, who is from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, finished ninth in the women’s competition, and Smith, who lives in Colorado where United States Ski Mountaineering (USA Skimo) is based, finished 11th in the men’s competition.

Getting a new sport to debut at an Olympics can take 25 years to achieve. But skimo isn’t a lock as a new Olympic sport going forward. Television viewership and social media activity are two considering factors in the eyes of the IOC. Only the shorter sprint skimo event, not the longer vertical, and the team relay were included in this Olympics.

Gibson told reporters in the finish area, when asked about being the first group in the world to do skimo in the Games, “It was incredible, just standing in the start and seeing the Olympic rings on the hillside, it got really real.” She’s a first time Olympian in this event. 

First time Olympian Smith said, “It’s just such a special moment to be able to share with the people on the ground here, watching on TV, and following it from home. When I think about all that effort so many people have put in, I want to give them something to cheer for, and have some fun while we’re here.”

The two Americans, qualified for Milan Cortina at the Skimo World Cup held this season at Solitude in Utah.

The women’s individual gold medal went to Switzerland, silver to France, and bronze to Spain. For me, the gold medal went to Spain, silver to AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete), and the bronze to France.

Park City High School and Park City Ski & Snowboard’s Griffin Briley is the mens American alternate for this event. Representative’s from the International Skimo Federation (ISMF) told TownLift that, as an alternate, Briley is onsite in Italy but isn’t allowed to be present at the venues or Olympic Village. In sports where there are relays, like the skimo relay in a couple of days, an alternate is provided in case of unforeseen situations, thus giving the best opportunity for a country, and an athlete to fulfill their Olympic dreams.   

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All Photos: TownLift // Michele Roepke

In the city where the skimo events are being hosted, there’s a ski factory which has been making skimo equipment for longer than most other places. Therefore, the community has held special ceremonies all week leading up to this skimo-moment.

Originally from Heber City but now living in Italy with his wife and children, Ben Flaccus landed a spot as a Milan Cortina Olympics skimo volunteer. Even though the official application window closed months ago, on a whim Flaccus popped his head into a processing building mere weeks ago to see if they needed more volunteers. Upon hearing his fluent English and fluent Italian, they signed him up on the spot and assigned him a gig front-and-center.