At the Milan-Cortina Olympics, the inaugural Olympic champions in alpine skiing were announced, marking a significant milestone for the sport as it made its debut in the Olympic program. Swiss athlete Marianne Fatton clinched the gold medal in the women's sprint event, finishing with a time of 2 minutes and 59.77 seconds, followed closely by France’s Émilie Aropa in silver, 2.38 seconds behind, and Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez taking the bronze, trailing the winner by 10.45 seconds. This event highlights the growing recognition and competitiveness of alpine skiing in the realm of international sports.

In the men's sprint, Spain's Oriol Cardona Kols captured gold with a remarkable time of 2 minutes and 34.03 seconds, leading by 1.52 seconds over the neutral athlete Nikita Filipov, who secured silver. France’s Tibo Anselmë completed the podium by claiming the bronze with a time 2.31 seconds behind Kols. This achievement is especially significant for Cardona Kols as it marks Spain's first gold medal in winter Olympic history after a 50-year hiatus, with the last victory dating back to 1972 in Sapporo for alpine skiing.

The upcoming mixed relay event scheduled for Saturday will further showcase the athletes' skills and possibly distribute more medals in this exciting new category. The debut of alpine skiing at the Olympics not only amplifies the visibility of the sport but also sets the stage for future competitions and athletes, potentially inspiring a new generation of winter sports enthusiasts.