Emily Harrop Secures Silver in Historic Olympic Ski Mountaineering Debut

London, 20 February 2026 – French ski mountaineering star Emily Harrop has claimed the silver medal in the women’s sprint at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. In a highly anticipated final held in Bormio, Harrop, the pre-race favourite and reigning World Cup champion, was narrowly defeated by Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton. The event marked the official debut of ski mountaineering (skimo) as an Olympic discipline, with Harrop etching her name into the history books as one of the sport’s first-ever Olympic medallists.

Olympic Performance in Bormio

Harrop entered the competition as the “Queen of Sprint,” having won every World Cup sprint event during the 2024/25 season. She demonstrated her dominance early in the day, posting the fastest times in the qualifying heats and comfortably winning her semi-final with a time of 3:06.57. However, in the final, a technical difficulty during the second transition—specifically struggling to remove the skins from her skis—allowed Fatton to capitalise. Harrop finished 2.38 seconds behind the Swiss athlete to take the silver, while Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez secured the bronze.

Career and Background

Born in Bourg-Saint-Maurice to English parents, Harrop grew up in the Tarentaise Valley. Despite her British roots, she represents France and is a member of the “Army of Champions” military sports programme, which provides the infrastructure for her professional training. Since her World Cup debut in the 2019/20 season, she has become the most dominant force in the sport, securing four consecutive Overall World Cup titles between 2022 and 2025.

Key Facts: Emily Harrop

The following table outlines the professional profile and achievements of the French ski mountaineer as of February 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Emily Harrop compete for France instead of Great Britain?

Although born to English parents, Harrop was raised in France and developed her skills within the French alpine system. She is a member of the French military’s high-level athlete programme, which has been instrumental in her professional development and success on the world stage.

What is “Skimo,” the sport Emily Harrop competes in?

Ski mountaineering, or “Skimo,” is a winter sport that involves racing over mountainous terrain using both skiing and mountaineering techniques. Competitors must climb uphill (often with skins attached to their skis or carrying skis on their backs) and descend rapidly through alpine gates.

What caused Harrop to miss out on the gold medal at the 2026 Olympics?

During the final of the women’s sprint, Harrop held the lead for a significant portion of the race. However, she encountered a delay during the second transition phase while attempting to remove the skins from her skis for the final descent, allowing Marianne Fatton to overtake her.