Ski mountaineering at Milano Cortina 2026 – Oriol Cardona Coll and Thibaut Anselmet headline men’s field
Spain have not won an Olympic Winter gold medal in 54 years, but that half-century wait could be brought to an end thanks to Oriol Cardona Coll.
An Olympic Solidarity athlete, the 31-year-old comes to Milano Cortina as the two-time reigning sprint world champion. With multiple world, European and ISMF World Cup titles, all that eludes the Banyoles native is the Olympic gold at the first time of asking.
He will face stern competition from Thibault Anselmet of France, who has twice finished as runner-up to Cardona Coll in the World Championships sprint race. When it comes to the World Cup though, the Frenchman has won three straight overall titles.
Anselmet, a keen wildlife photographer and son of a former international ski mountaineer, has enjoyed success in the mixed relay, winning the last two world titles and the 2022 European Championship gold in Boí Taüll.
Team Switzerland will also be in the running for the podium, their five Youth Olympic medals more than any other nation has achieved. Twins Robin and Thomas Bussard won four of them, with Robin adding world mixed relay bronze on home snow in Morgins last year.
For the host nation, Michele Boscacci will be Italy’s sole male representative. The 36-year-old has won five World Championship gold medals in his career, and now has the honour of competing in his home province of Sondrio.