At the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan Cortina, French athletes Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet achieved a remarkable feat by securing the gold medal in the mixed relay ski mountaineering event. This victory marked France's 21st medal at these Games and the seventh gold. Their performance was particularly impressive as they led the race from start to finish, establishing themselves as top contenders after earning silver and bronze in their individual events earlier in the week.

The duo had expressed a strong desire to reclaim their standing after their individual performances and entered the relay with a mind to capture the 'most beautiful of medals.' As reigning world champions (2023 and 2025), their experience and determination played a pivotal role in their success. The French team triumphed over strong competitors from Switzerland and Spain, with Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler finishing in second place and Oriol Cardona and Ana Alonzo taking third.

This gold medal not only highlights the prowess of Harrop and Anselmet in ski mountaineering but also underscores the growing significance of this sport on the Olympic stage, particularly with it being featured for the first time at these Games. The successful outcomes for the French athletes may inspire further investment and interest in ski mountaineering, potentially leading to a new wave of talent emerging from France in the years to come.