Ana Alonso, Bronze of Triumph in Skimo's Olympic Debut

Some medals weigh more due to the journey than the metal. Ana Alonso's at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is one of them.

The 31-year-old from Granada claimed bronze in the ski mountaineering sprint event, securing Spain's sixth medal in Olympic history and etching her name into Skimo's Olympic debut.

Ski mountaineering debuted as an Olympic discipline, and Alonso arrived at the event after a pre-season interrupted by a serious accident while cycling. In October, she suffered, among other injuries, a torn knee ligament. Four months later, she was on the starting line.

In the final, only Switzerland's Marianne Fatton and France's Emily Harrop were faster. The race was decided in the transitions, that technical territory where time is gained almost imperceptibly. Alonso was particularly effective in the last two, and in the decisive one, she overtook Margot Ravinel when the podium seemed set.

Her participation in Milano Cortina even began with a slip on the stairs section of the first round. An anecdotal detail within a recovery process that demanded medical precision, mental fortitude, and unwavering confidence.

"They told me I was crazy, that I wouldn't even make it to the Games, and here's the first medal (...) I have so many people who believed in me: my family, the physiotherapists, my coach, my psychologist, my nutritionist, and the entire Spanish team. Truly, it's incredible. I felt so much strength despite the path I've had. I feel very fortunate," she declared to RTVE after the race.

It was a perfect day for the Spanish team: Oriol Cardona won gold in the men's event, solidifying Skimo's impact in its Olympic premiere. Both will also compete in the mixed relay in Bormio, where Spain is once again among the favorites.

In the first Olympic chapter of ski mountaineering, Ana Alonso not only secured a bronze. She confirmed that rebuilding can also take the form of a podium finish.