Anna Gibson made history in Bormio on Thursday, Feb. 19 as one of the first Americans to compete in ski mountaineering at the Olympic Winter Games. With the sport making its debut at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, the 26-year-old from Jackson, WY, advanced through the sprint quarterfinals and into the semifinals, marking a significant milestone in her first Olympic appearance.

From Trail Running to Team USA

Gibson’s background is rooted in endurance sports. Raised in Jackson, she built her athletic career through cross country, track, Nordic skiing, and—eventually—professional trail running.

Her transition into ski mountaineering happened relatively quickly. Encouraged to compete at the World Cup level, she committed to the sport in late 2025. Within months, she had secured an Olympic spot for Team USA in the women’s sprint event and Team USA’s mixed relay.

Breaking Down the Event

In the Olympic women’s sprint event, 18 athletes compete in a head-to-head elimination format.

The competition begins with three quarterfinal heats of six athletes each. The top three finishers from every heat automatically move on to the semifinals. The next three fastest times across all heats also advance as “lucky losers,” filling out the 12 semifinal spots.

In the semifinals, the remaining athletes are divided into two heats of six. The top three from each semifinal qualify for the final.

The final round features six competitors racing for the podium. The sprint format unfolds across multiple rounds in one day, with each race lasting only a few minutes.

“I just think it’s a testament to the fact that no one ever knows what’s going to happen. That’s why we do the race. We were here to play, and today I think we showed that”

Anna Gibson

Gibson’s Unexpected Season

Gibson entered the winter without long-term expectations. Her season unfolded faster than most anticipated, including her own.

“I think this entire season feels like a huge surprise to everyone,” Gibson said. “So I just think it’s a testament to the fact that no one ever knows what’s going to happen. That’s why we do the race. We were here to play, and today I think we showed that.” 

In the individual women’s sprint event, Gibson advanced to the semifinals, a significant achievement for someone in her first international season. Entering as the lowest-ranked sprinter in the field and with limited World Cup sprint experience, she showed that her endurance base and rapid technical development could translate to the Olympic stage. Advancing placed her among the top-12 athletes in the sport’s debut, despite having only recently committed to ski mountaineering full time.

Team USA in Contention

Gibson also teamed up with 13-time U.S. national champion Cam Smith in the mixed relay, a four-leg race in which each athlete competed twice. When the final leg unfolded, Team USA was within reach of the podium. They ultimately crossed the line in fourth place, narrowly missing bronze.

“It’s been an incredible experience,” Gibson said. “There’s nothing to complain about getting fourth place.”

Despite finishing just outside the medals, the result marked one of the strongest Olympic showings for a U.S. ski mountaineering team in the sport’s debut.