Ski mountaineering makes its hotly anticipated debut at the Winter Olympics in blizzard conditions in Bormio.

Ski sticks in her left hand, French flag in her right and a smile as wide as the margin between her and the rest of the field, Julia Simon cruised over the line during the final week of the Winter Olympics to claim gold for her country in the women's 4 x 6km relay.

BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Thanks to ski mountaineering, Emily Harrop has a rank in the French military of chief sergeant. Because of the newest Winter Games sport, she could soon have another title — Olympic champion.

The men's hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is the first tournament with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, will feature all 12 teams playing three preliminary games in their respective groups, then all 12 moving on to a single-elimination playoff that will conclude with the gold medal game Feb. 22.

From trudging up a mountain to immediately skiing down it, Anne Thompson explores the intricacies of the latest addition to the Winter Olympics: ski mountaineering, also known as “SkiMo.” The sport of ski mountaineering made its long-awaited Olympics debut Thursday and crowned its first champion at the Milan Cortina Games in Marianne Fatton of Switzerland.

ABOVE VIDEO: Marianne Fatton made history by winning gold in the first-ever Winter Olympic ski mountaineering sprint event. Can't view the above video? Click here. The newest sport on the Olympic program made its debut Thursday at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Cortina saw Marianne Fatton triumph at the expense of the unfortunate Emily Harrop, with the transitions proving decisive to the outcome of the medals

Stream every moment and every medal of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games on Peacock. Read more NBC News coverage of the Olympics and the athletes competing. Despite a major comeback from Switzerland in the final end,

A look ahead to the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, including venue plans, competition zones and how the regional model compares to Milan

Winter Olympics fans wer outraged at Peacock as they missed the only fight of the tournament and watched from a fan video.