The 25th Winter Olympic Games have officially commenced in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. This year’s event, which runs until 22 February, features 116 medal competitions across 16 disciplines. Significantly, it also marks a historic milestone for gender equality with 47% female participation.
For the Catalan delegation, the games represent a historic high watermark. A record 18 Catalan athletes are set to compete. Consequently, high expectations centre on ski mountaineering, a sport making its Olympic debut in the sprint format.
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Catalan athletes Winter Olympics 2026: Medal hopes and historic debuts
Leading the charge is Oriol Cardona from Banyoles, widely considered a favourite for gold in the ski mountaineering sprint. Cardona has dominated this speciality for years and arrives in peak form. He recently secured gold at the World Cup event in Courchevel. The Olympic event will be held on the Bormio circuit, a venue where Cardona has already tasted victory during the 2025 World Cup season.
Veteran snowboarder Queralt Castellet returns for her sixth Olympic appearance. The Sabadell native aims to replicate her success from Beijing 2022, where she won silver in the halfpipe. She is joined by Nora Cornell, who makes her Olympic debut in the slopestyle and big air events.
History is also being made on the ice. Nil Llop becomes the first Catalan athlete to compete in Olympic speed skating. He will contest the 500-metre event.
Catalan athletes Winter Olympics 2026: Broader representation
The contingent of athletes from the region extends beyond the slopes of Bormio. In cross-country skiing, Marc Collell, Jaume Pueyo, and Bernat Sellés will represent the Spanish team. Meanwhile, the Andorran delegation features several prominent names, including Irineu Esteve and Gina del Río in cross-country skiing, alongside alpine skier Joan Verdú.
Ski mountaineering also sees a strong field of local talent. Maria Costa, Ot Ferrer, and Quim Salarich compete alongside Andorran representatives Xavier Cornellà, Jordina Caminal, Carla Mijares Ruf, and Cande Moreno.
The ‘Minions’ music row
One of the most talked-about stories leading up to the Opening Ceremony involved Barcelona figure skater Tomàs Guarino. The skater faced a tense standoff regarding the music for his routine, which heavily features tracks from the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, including ‘Universal Fanfare’ and Pharrell Williams’ ‘Freedom’.
Initially, Universal Studios refused to negotiate the rights. This put Guarino’s performance—and his Minion-inspired costume—in jeopardy. However, following a wave of support on social media, the studio relented. It authorised the use of two tracks while negotiations continue for the remaining pieces. Guarino has since become a viral sensation online, celebrated as much for his resilience as for his creative routine.
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