Thibault Anselmet, Olympic champion in ski mountaineering
World leader in ski mountaineering
Low-key yet formidable in competition, Thibault Anselmet has established himself in just a few seasons as a global leader in ski mountaineering (the competitive side of ski touring). In 2021, his very first year on the senior circuit, he finished the ski mountaineering season with a small globe in the vertical race and a second-place finish in the overall World Cup standings! Season after season, he has climbed to the top of his sport and… he’s stayed there! A three-time overall World Cup champion, Olympic champion, and double medalist at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, he combines explosive power, technical skill, and tactical acumen across all disciplines.
Olympic champion at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
In 2026, ski mountaineering made its debut at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics with two events: the sprint and the mixed relay
Having qualified for both races, Thibault Anselmet won two medals and further cemented his place in the history of the sport:
- gold and the Olympic title in the mixed relay after a flawless race with Emily Harrop
- bronze in the sprint after a legendary comeback in the final
With this Olympic title and bronze medal, Thibault has once again cemented his place among the world’s best and, in doing so, brought immense Bonneval sur Arc to Bonneval sur Arc .
2026 Winter Olympics: Olympic champion in the mixed relay and bronze medalist in the sprint
2025–2026: Another Exceptional Season
The 2025–2026 season once again demonstrated Thibault Anselmet’s exceptional skill:
- Olympic champion in the mixed relay
- Bronze medal in the sprint at the Olympic Games
- Winner of the Sprint Crystal Globe (2026 World Cup)
A historic performance, with two Olympic medals, including the title in the mixed relay. Despite a shortened World Cup season—the French team skipped the races in Azerbaijan for geopolitical reasons—Thibault also won the small globe in the sprint and racked up victories and podium finishes throughout the season.
A family story
Like many local children, Thibault Anselmet was on skis before he could even walk. No surprise, given that his father was a mountaineer himself. A member of the Bonneval sur Arc Ski Club Bonneval sur Arc a resort designated “Terre d’Alpinisme ” by the UNESCO Committee), he spent years on the slopes before turning to ski mountaineering as a teenager. And very quickly, he followed in his father’s footsteps. A blend of mentorship and admiration: “He’d pick me up from boarding school on Wednesdays to end the day with some steep climbs in our resorts in the Haute Maurienne Vanoise.”
“This sport is physically and mentally demanding, and you learn a lot about yourself. You discover who you are. It also lets you go wherever you want in the mountains, without being limited to trails or lifts. ” Ski mountaineering: a family tradition for the Anselmets. Thibault’s brother, Jérémy, won the silver medal in the U20 mixed relay at the 2023 World Championships.
List of Winners
Olympic Games
- Gold – Mixed Relay (2026)
- Bronze – sprint (2026)
World Cup
- Overall winner: 2023, 2024, 2025
- Sprint Globe: 2024, 2026
- Small Vertical Race Globe: 2021
World Championships
- World Champion in the Mixed Relay: 2023, 2025
- World Sprint Runner-Up: 2025
French Championships
- 14 French championship titles
Follow Thibault Anselmet on Instagram!
Ski touring culture
A leading figure in ski mountaineering in France, Thibault Anselmet also reveals a "ski touring" culture that is well established in the resorts of Haute Maurienne Vanoise. Races and events are regularly organized in the resorts (Trace du Châtelard in Aussois, Traversée des Rois Mages in Valfréjus, ascent of the Eterlou in La Norma, etc.) and routes are specially marked out in Aussois, Val Cenis and Bessans.
Bessans and Bonneval sur Arc are even labeled « Land of Alpinism » by UNESCO, notably thanks to this ski touring culture.
While Thibault Anselmet is at the top of his game, the next generation is already here: Anselme Damevin, from Val Cenis, is among the best young French skiers, having finished second at the 2026 Pierra Menta.
With such a density, Haute Maurienne Vanoise is now the land of ski mountaineering champions in France.
