Discover Olympic sports in the world of skiing

Winter Olympic sports include all disciplines featured in the Winter Olympic Games. In total, there are seven Olympic winter sports, divided into 15 disciplines. For better organisation, each Olympic sport is governed by an international federation. To be included in this category, a discipline must be practised by men in at least 50 countries across three continents. It must also be practised by women in at least 35 countries on three continents. It’s worth noting that the first Winter Olympic Games were held in France, in Chamonix, in 1924.

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Winter Olympic sports: which disciplines?

Biathlon

A combination of two disciplines, this sport has been part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1960. Originally, it was practised exclusively by the military. Today, anyone who enjoys combining rifle shooting and cross-country skiing can take part freely.

Mainly aimed at young athletes, biathlon is now a national sport in Russia, Germany, and the Nordic countries. The discipline includes both individual and team events.

Alpine skiing

A sliding sport with 10 events, alpine skiing was first featured at the Olympics in 1936. However, its origins date back to 1850.

In men’s and women’s alpine skiing competitions, participants compete in events such as the combined, downhill, giant slalom, slalom, super combined, and super-G.

This sport includes five disciplines: two speed events, one mixed event, and two technical events.

Skicross

A discipline within freestyle skiing, this sport originated in the United States in 1990.

In skicross competitions, participants first go through qualifying rounds before reaching the finals. Much like motocross, athletes race along a course about 600 metres long, navigating various obstacles.

Skicross is especially popular among men, but several women also compete in it at the Winter Olympic Games.

Snowboard

First introduced at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, snowboard initially featured two disciplines: Giant Slalom and Halfpipe.

Today, this winter sport includes five disciplines, with only one not part of the Winter Olympic Games. Besides the two mentioned, there are also Slopestyle and Snowboardcross.

The greatest champions of the Olympics sports

Émile Allais

Born on 25 February 1912, Émile Allais was the first French athlete to win a gold medal in alpine skiing, taking victory in the downhill, slalom, and combined events.

He passed away in Sallanches in 2012 and remains an internationally renowned sportsman. Known for his historic triple win at the 1937 World Championships in Chamonix, Allais helped develop the French skiing techniques that came to rival the dominant Austrian style.

A true legend in the discipline, he continued skiing until the age of 100.

Jean-Baptiste Grange

A well-known French skier in his discipline, Jean-Baptiste Grange is still active in the sport today. Born on 10 October 1984, he is now 32 years old.

A member of the S.C. Valloire club, Grange won two gold medals at the World Championships — one in 2011 and another in 2015. His best overall World Cup ranking came in 2009, when he finished in 5th place.

Xavier de Le Rue

Born in Bayonne on 1 July 1979, Xavier de Le Rue is best known for his achievements in snowboard cross. In this discipline, he won two World Championship titles — the first in 2003 in Kreischberg, Austria, and the second in 2007 in Arosa, Switzerland. In 2009, he earned the silver medal and became vice-world champion.

Over his career, Xavier de Le Rue has claimed a total of five gold medals and one silver. He topped the World Cup rankings in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

In the Freeride World Tour, he won the overall title in 2008, followed by victories at the Tignes and Verbier stages in 2009, and at Sochi, Squaw Valley, and Verbier in 2010.

Marion Rolland

Marion Rolland is a French alpine skier specialising in downhill. She was born in 1982 and is now 34 years old. She is a member of the SC Les Deux Alpes club.

Her World Cup debut came in 2004, when she competed in the downhill event at Haus im Ennstal in Austria. In 2013, Marion Rolland won the gold medal in downhill at the World Championships in Schladming.

Marielle Goitschel

A renowned French skier, Marielle Goitschel was a downhill specialist. She joined her first ski club at just 14 years old.

Born on 28 September 1945, she earned an impressive 24 gold medals and 12 silver medals over the course of her career. She was crowned French champion five times and won the world championship title on seven occasions.