An athlete who was eligible to represent Great Britain stands poised to make history by becoming the inaugural Olympic champion in the sport of ski mountaineering. The dramatic showdown will unfold on Thursday at the foot of the legendary Stelvio slope in Bormio, Italy.
Historic Olympic Debut for Ski Mountaineering
The fabled finish area, traditionally used for men's alpine events, has been radically transformed into a challenging helter-skelter course for this high-octane sport's first appearance on the Olympic programme. The Olympic version of ski mountaineering, often called 'ski-mo', features a demanding three-section race.
Athletes must first run up the Stelvio slope using specialised skis, then undertake a gruelling climb up a steeper incline while wearing ski boots, before finally navigating a slalom descent back to the finish line. The sport includes three distinct events: men's individual, women's individual, and a mixed team relay. The heats for these intense competitions are remarkably brief, often lasting as little as three minutes.
Emily Harrop: The Overwhelming Favourite
The overwhelming favourite to claim gold in the women's event is Emily Harrop. Born to English parents in the French alpine town of Bourg Saint Maurice, Harrop will be competing for France, despite her eligibility for Team GB. Her journey to the pinnacle of ski mountaineering began after she won the British Ski Championships in 2015.
A subsequent injury prompted her to switch disciplines to ski-mountaineering, where she has since dominated the global stage. Harrop has been crowned the overall ski-mountaineering world champion for an impressive four consecutive years, establishing herself as the athlete to beat.
Managing Pressure and Embracing History
"Historically, France has always been a nation of ski mountaineers, so we've always had great athletes," stated the 28-year-old champion. She acknowledged the mounting pressure as the Games approach, especially given her status as a favourite. "Of course, the pressure is mounting a little bit. It's the Olympics, especially when you're one of the favourites, let's not try to hide it," Harrop admitted.
However, she remains focused on the positive aspects of the experience. "But we're already experiencing incredible things, and I think that takes away some of the pressure of seeing the Games like that." Her calm demeanour and proven track record make her the standout contender as the world watches the historic debut of ski mountaineering at the Olympic level.
