Oriol Cardona won the gold medal in the ski mountaineering sprint at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This is a historic success for Spain, which had been waiting for gold in winter sports since 1972. Cardona, trained by mountain running legend Kilian Jornet, confirmed his dominance in the new Olympic discipline of ski mountaineering. The Spanish success was completed by the bronze medal won by Ana Alonso in the same women's event.

Historic Triumph for Spain

Oriol Cardona won Spain's second gold in its history of Winter Olympic participation, ending a 54-year drought without victory since Sapporo 1972.

Jornet's Training Method

The winner prepared under the guidance of Kilian Jornet in Norway, following a rigorous program that allowed him to dominate the final sprint.

Political Disputes in the Background

The IOC confiscated estelades in the stands, sparking protests from Catalan independence parties against the Games' policy of political neutrality.

Italian Bormio became the arena for an unprecedented success for Spanish winter sports. Oriol Cardona, a 31-year-old athlete from Banyoles, clinched the gold medal in the sprint event of ski mountaineering, more widely known as skimo. Cardona, who has dominated the World Cup circuit for years, fully lived up to his favorite status, ending his country's 54-year drought. The last Spaniard to stand on the top step of the Winter Olympic podium was Francisco Fernandez Ochoa in Sapporo in 1972. The Catalan athlete's success is no accident but the result of grueling preparations under the guidance of legend Kilian Jornet. Cardona honed his form, among other places, in Norway, where he underwent rigorous endurance and technical training. Jornet emphasized that this victory is a well-deserved reward for years of sacrifice and professionalism. The Spanish team's joy was doubled as Ana Alonso won the bronze medal in the same discipline, making these Games the most successful in the history of Spanish skiing. Spain, despite its status as a powerhouse in summer sports, had previously won only five medals in the history of the Winter Olympics. Cardona's gold is only the second medal of the most precious metal in the country's entire Olympic history, sparking national euphoria in Spain. „It was about time. I think I have never been as happy in my life as I am now on the podium.” — Oriol Cardona The sporting competition was accompanied, however, by political controversies. The International Olympic Committee enforced a strict ban on political demonstrations, leading to the confiscation of Catalan national flags, known as estelades, in the stands. This provoked outrage among politicians of the Junts party, who accused the IOC of censorship. Despite these incidents, Cardona remains a new national hero, and his feat has the potential to popularize ski mountaineering across Southern Europe. 54 lata — Spain waited 54 years for its second winter gold Number of Spain: Francisco Fernandez Ochoa (1972): 1, Oriol Cardona (2026): 1

Mentioned People

  • Oriol Cardona — Olympic champion in ski mountaineering in 2026, multiple world and European champion.
  • Kilian Jornet — Legendary mountain runner and ski mountaineer, coach and mentor of Oriol Cardona.
  • Francisco Fernandez Ochoa — First Spanish gold medalist at the Winter Olympics (slalom, 1972).