Anna Gibson, a 26-year-old elite trail runner from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has qualified for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics in the new sport of ski mountaineering. Partnering with Cameron Smith, she won her debut World Cup race in Utah last month, securing a U.S. spot in the mixed relay event. The victory marks the first gold medal for the U.S. in a World Cup mixed relay.
Several months ago, Anna Gibson was focused on trail running, where she earned sponsorship from Brooks and placed third in the vertical uphill race at the world mountain and trail running championships in Spain last fall. Her diverse athletic background includes being a junior national champion in cross-country skiing in 2017, a slalom specialist in Alpine racing, and a two-time Gatorade cross-country runner of the year for Wyoming. She ran collegiately at Brown University and the University of Washington before gravitating toward endurance sports.
The pivot to ski mountaineering began in June at a trail race, when friend Cameron Smith, a multi-time North American champion from Crested Butte, Colorado, suggested they team up for the U.S. mixed relay. Ski mountaineering involves ascending terrain on skis or foot before high-speed descents. Gibson, whose parents raced in Wyoming skimo events, agreed a week later despite the short timeline.
"He was like, 'Here's the deal: We're on the edge of making the Olympics and you could contribute,'" Gibson recounted. She trained rigorously on transitions, practicing ski skins in her yard and on a yoga mat. In August, she joined a U.S. team camp in Utah, followed by one in Italy in September.
Paired with Smith for the World Cup race in Utah in early December, the stakes were clear: beat Canada to qualify. They led from the start to win, clinching the Olympic berth. "She looked like a seasoned pro," said Sarah Cookler, head of sport for USA Skimo. "Anna's performance was convincing. Anna is calculated, calm, experienced, and absolutely easy to work with."
"I had never even considered winning the race as the outcome," Gibson said. "We were just trying to beat Canada and make it to the Olympics." Smith added, "Now we're going there to fight for medals." Gibson's family and friends plan to attend the Games in Italy.
