U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee names Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith to 2026 U.S. Olympic Ski Mountaineering Team

Gibson and Smith will represent the first-ever U.S. team for Olympic ski mountaineering

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee today announced that Anna Gibson (Teton Village, Wyoming) and Cameron Smith (Crested Butte, Colorado) have been nominated to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Ski Mountaineering Team, becoming the first athletes in U.S. history to compete in ski mountaineering as the sport makes its Olympic debut at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Competing at an International Ski Mountaineering Federation world cup for the first time on home soil, Smith and Gibson secured the United States’ quota spot with a historic victory in the final mixed relay qualification event at the ISMF World Cup Solitude 2025, held Dec. 6-7 in Solitude, Utah. The pair clocked a commanding 32:17.6 – more than 50 seconds ahead of their nearest competitors – clinching the U.S.’s quota spot and establishing Team USA on the international ski mountaineering stage. This victory also marked the first time the U.S. has ever won a Skimo mixed relay world cup event.

“We are thrilled to name Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith as the first-ever U.S. Olympic ski mountaineers,” said Sarah Cookler, head of sport at USA Skimo. “Their exceptional performance at the world cup in Solitude earned the U.S. a place in the inaugural Olympic lineup, and their drive, teamwork and resilience embody the very best of the Olympic spirit. We’re eager to see what they can accomplish on the world’s largest stage.”

With the victory, Smith becomes a two-time world cup podium finisher, building on his historic milestone as the first American man to ever reach a world cup podium after placing third in the vertical event at the 2022 Comapedrosa World Cup. He is also a 13-time U.S. national champion.

“Being nominated to the first U.S. Olympic Ski Mountaineering Team is an incredible honor,” said Smith. “To represent the United States on the sport’s biggest stage – and in its Olympic debut – means everything to me. After winning the world cup on home soil, we’re proud to carry this momentum into Milano Cortina and show the world what American ski mountaineering is capable of.”

In her world cup debut, Gibson struck gold alongside Smith, further elevating an already impressive résumé that includes a national title at the 2025 USA Track & Field Mountain Running Championships and a third-place finish at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

“It’s extremely exciting to be part of the first U.S. team to compete in Olympic ski mountaineering,” said Gibson. “Representing Team USA – especially in a brand-new Olympic discipline – is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m grateful for the support of our coaches, teammates, and the entire U.S. ski mountaineering community.”

Combining uphill endurance, technical mountain skill and precision under pressure, Smith and Gibson have helped elevate the profile of U.S. ski mountaineering and will now bring that momentum to the sport’s historic Olympic debut in Italy. The Olympic mixed relay event will take place Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio.

For more Team USA qualification coverage and details on the road to Milano Cortina 2026, visit TeamUSA.com/Making-Team-USA and follow @TeamUSA across social media channels. Stay up to date with the latest results and qualification information, athlete trackers, competition calendars, exclusive digital content, athlete stories and more.