Oriol Cardona Coll has made history for Spain, securing the nation's first Winter Olympics gold medal in 54 years by winning the men's sprint in the inaugural ski mountaineering event.
Minutes prior, Switzerland's Marianne Fatton also etched her name in the record books, triumphing over pre-race favorite Emily Harrop of France to become the first Olympic champion in the multi-discipline sport making its Games debut.
Cardona Coll delivered a dominant performance in the six-man final, navigating the challenging up-and-down course under challenging snowstorm conditions to defeat Russia's Nikita Filippov. France's Thibault Anselmet secured the bronze.
This victory marks a significant moment for Spain, whose only previous Winter Olympics gold was achieved by Francisco Fernandez Ochoa in Alpine skiing at Sapporo in 1972. The win also adds to Spain's medal count at the Milano-Cortina Games.
"The feeling is amazing. I've been dreaming about being here, about winning the race a lot of times and finally the dream has come true," said the 31-year-old world champion. "It means a lot for us as a country. Also means a lot for the ski mountaineering family to be here."
In the women's event, Fatton, the world champion, overcame a strong challenge from Harrop. Harrop, a four-time SkiMo overall champion, lost crucial time during transitions, allowing Fatton to seize control and secure the gold. Ana Alonso Rodriguez's bronze medal also contributed to Spain's success.
The ski mountaineering sprint event proved to be an absorbing spectacle, featuring intense head-to-head competition. The format includes a steep climb with skins, a staircase ascent with skis on the back, a short ski section, and a technical descent. Precision in transitions is critical, as demonstrated by Harrop's experience with ski mounting.