Olympic Skiing History

Skiing has been at the heart of the Winter Olympics since the very first Games. What began with a handful of Nordic events in the French Alps has evolved into a spectacular collection of disciplines that showcase human athleticism against the backdrop of the world's greatest mountains.

The Early Years (1924–1936)

The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France in 1924, featuring only Nordic skiing events — cross-country and ski jumping. These disciplines reflected skiing's Scandinavian roots, where it had been a mode of transportation for centuries.

• 1924 Chamonix: 18-km and 50-km cross-country, ski jumping, Nordic combined
• 1928 St. Moritz: Same events, growing international participation
• 1932 Lake Placid: Nordic nations continued to dominate
• 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Alpine skiing debuted with a combined event (downhill + slalom)

The Alpine Era (1948–1968)

After World War II, alpine skiing rapidly expanded in the Olympic program. The 1948 St. Moritz Games reintroduced winter competition, and alpine skiing began its rise to prominence.

• 1948 St. Moritz: Separate downhill and slalom events introduced
• 1952 Oslo: Giant slalom added to the program
• 1960 Squaw Valley: Women's events gained equal status
• 1964 Innsbruck: Jean-Claude Killy era begins
• 1968 Grenoble: Killy wins triple gold (DH, GS, Slalom)

Expansion and Innovation (1976–1998)

New disciplines and formats brought fresh excitement to Olympic skiing.

• 1988 Calgary: Super-G introduced for both men and women
• 1992 Albertville: Freestyle skiing (moguls) debuted as a medal sport
• 1994 Lillehammer: The Games that captivated the world; short-track relay added to cross-country
• 1998 Nagano: Snowboarding arrived (sharing mountain venues with skiing)

The Modern Era (2002–2022)

The 21st century has seen an explosion of new skiing events, reflecting the sport's evolution beyond traditional disciplines.

• 2002 Salt Lake City: Sprint format introduced in cross-country
• 2006 Turin: Ski cross proposed for future inclusion
• 2010 Vancouver: Ski cross debuted; women's ski jumping campaign intensified
• 2014 Sochi: Women's ski jumping finally included; slopestyle and halfpipe skiing added to freestyle
• 2018 PyeongChang: Big air (freestyle) added; new team events in alpine
• 2022 Beijing: Mixed team events expanded across disciplines

Milano Cortina 2026: A New Chapter

The upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Games (February 6–22) will make history with the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering, bringing the total number of skiing-related disciplines to seven:

1. Alpine Skiing (11 events)
2. Cross-Country Skiing (12 events)
3. Freestyle Skiing (13 events)
4. Ski Jumping (5 events)
5. Biathlon (11 events)
6. Nordic Combined (3 events)
7. Ski Mountaineering (5 events) — NEW

The Games return to Italy's iconic Dolomites, with Cortina d'Ampezzo hosting alpine events at venues that first saw Olympic competition in 1956.

Medal Count Milestones

Looking Ahead

As skiing enters its second century as an Olympic sport, the addition of ski mountaineering signals the IOC's commitment to evolving the Winter Games. With athletes pushing boundaries in speed, style, and endurance, Olympic skiing continues to inspire millions around the world.

The mountains of Northern Italy await — and with them, the next chapter in one of sport's greatest stories.