Spain's Historic Triumph at the 2026 Winter Olympics Breaks 54-Year Drought
Spain ends a 54-year wait for Winter Olympic gold with landmark victories in mountain skiing at the 2026 Games.
- • Oriol Cardona won Spain's first Winter Olympic gold in 54 years at Bormio 2026.
- • Ana Alonso earned a bronze medal after overcoming a serious accident.
- • Spain's funding for winter sports has quadrupled since 2018, enhancing athlete support.
- • Spain's 2026 Winter Olympic team is its strongest in history despite limited resources.
Key details
Spain celebrated a historic milestone at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy, with outstanding performances in mountain skiing. Oriol Cardona clinched a gold medal, ending a 54-year gold medal drought for Spain—the last being Paquito Fernández Ochoa's victory in 1972. Alongside Cardona's landmark achievement, Ana Alonso earned a bronze medal, a testament to her resilience after recovering from a severe accident. Ot Ferrer also notably secured a diploma by finishing fifth in the competition.
Milagros Tolón, Spain's Minister of Education, Vocational Training, and Sports, described these results as a "historic achievement," emphasizing the athletes' dedication and technical skill. José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, President of the Spanish Sports Council, highlighted the emotional significance of these victories and acknowledged the crucial role of increased funding for Spanish mountain sports. Financial support has surged from 604,077 euros in 2018 to 2,580,537 euros in 2025, bolstering athlete development and the establishment of technical structures.
This breakthrough is even more remarkable considering Spain’s traditionally limited Winter Olympic success. Spain has participated in Winter Games for 90 years with only seven medals, including just two golds, emphasizing the historic nature of the 2026 achievements. The current Winter Olympics roster featured just 20 Spanish athletes, a small contingent compared to larger winter sports nations such as Norway and Italy. Spanish winter sports historically have struggled with limited access to training facilities and an elitist perception that has hindered widespread development.
Despite these challenges, the enthusiasm and progress within Spain's winter sports community are growing. The federation president, May Peus, underscored ongoing efforts to nurture emerging talent through new training approaches. Looking forward, the Spanish team is set to compete in the upcoming mixed relay event at the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics, aiming to build on this best-ever performance and inspire future generations.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Total number of medals
Sources report different total medal counts for Spain in Winter Olympics history
lamoncloa.gob.es
"Spain secured a gold medal, a bronze, and a diploma in the newly introduced discipline of mountain skiing."
elpais.com
"Spain has only secured two gold medals and seven medals in total."
Why this matters: One source states Spain has secured seven medals in total, while the other claims Spain has won three medals in the recent Winter Olympics alone. This discrepancy affects the understanding of Spain's overall performance in Winter Olympics history.