From SkiMachine training to the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina

TANGUY NEF WINS GOLD MEDAL IN COMBINED SLALOM

Tanguy Nef delivered a sensational slalom performance to secure gold in the combined event with teammate Franjo von Allmen. After von Allmen, the Olympic downhill champion at these Games, posted the fourth-fastest time in the opening descent, it was up to Nef to make the difference. He did exactly that, producing a dream run that sealed their victory. For a long time, the slalom specialist from Veyrier struggled to fully grasp what he had accomplished. “Even standing on the podium with Marco, Franjo and Loïc, I almost felt a bit of imposter syndrome,” he admitted, describing that strange feeling of not quite believing you deserve the success. “I was up there with three stars. I am a fan of them myself. Then suddenly I heard my name.” It was a surreal breakthrough for the 29-year-old, who had never before stood on a World Cup podium and had often remained in the shadow of his accomplished teammates. Even days later, he still takes out his medal from time to time just to be sure. “Okay, it is still there. So it really happened.” From indoor training sessions at Loco Ski Academy in Saillon to the very top of the Olympic podium in Cortina. We are incredibly proud to see an athlete who trains on our SkiMachine reach the highest level of alpine skiing and claim gold on the world’s biggest stage!

ARMAND MARCHANT WRITES BELGIAN HISTORY AGAIN

Armand Marchant has made history once again by finishing fifth in Olympic slalom skiing at the Winter Games 2026, achieving the best result ever for Belgium in Olympic alpine skiing. His journey back to the top of the sport has been anything but easy. In 2017, a severe training crash in Switzerland left him with multiple fractures, torn ligaments, and serious knee damage. Over the following years, he underwent seven surgeries and more than two years of intense rehabilitation, facing immense physical and mental challenges. During that difficult time, he had to watch the 2018 Winter Olympics from home while the world’s best competed. Determined to make a return, Marchant rebuilt himself step by step. After his recovery, he spent countless hours training on our SkiMachine at Ski Indoor 4810 in Passy. His comeback required patience, discipline, and unwavering belief in his abilities. At the World Cup in Gurgl, he won a silver medal, securing Belgium’s first-ever podium finish in alpine skiing. Now, with his fifth-place finish in Olympic slalom in 2026, Marchant has raised the bar once again, delivering the strongest Olympic alpine skiing result in Belgian history and confirming his place among the world’s best alpine skiers. 

Wen-Yi Lee competes as the only female Taiwanese alpine skier

Back in 2022, Wen-Yi Lee made history as the first female skier from Taiwan to qualify for a Winter Olympics. At just 19, she competed in the women’s alpine slalom at Beijing 2022, where every skier races downhill, but Lee became known for her determination to climb uphill. On February 9, she fell near the start of her first run and missed a flag gate, a mistake that could have eliminated her. Refusing to give up, she climbed back up the slope, restarted, and completed the course, earning a spot in the second round. “I told myself, ‘You have worked so hard to get here, you cannot just give up,’” she told the Global Times in an exclusive interview. The cheers from the audience lifted her spirits and carried her through the next run.

Glenn de Blois: from Alpine Sports to Livigno Snow Park

Glenn de Blois has trained extensively over the years at our official demo center, Alpine Sports, which is within walking distance of the SkiMachine factory. He was the only Dutch athlete competing in snowboard cross and recorded the eighth fastest time in Thursday's qualifying round. Unfortunately, he did not advance to the quarterfinals. At the first measurement point, De Blois was in second place, showing a strong start. He later faced the Czech rider Krystof Choura and was involved in an unfortunate collision, ending his chances. The 30-year-old finished fourth. De Blois also competed at the Beijing Games in 2022, where he finished 28th, and he placed 23rd at last year’s World Cup. His performance in Italy met international standards, but not the additional national criteria. Despite this, the national sports organization NOC*NSF decided to include him on the team for Milan. “Glenn did not fully meet the national requirements, but the national ski association requested an exception. We reviewed it carefully and concluded that he deserved a place on the team,” said André Cats, director of top sports at NOC*NSF, shortly before the Games.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen wins first Brazilian Gold at Winter Olympics

Brazil made history at the Winter Olympics as Lucas Pinheiro Braathen captured gold in the Giant Slalom at Bormio, securing the nation’s first-ever medal at the Games. As the first skier down the notoriously challenging Stelvio slope, Braathen didn’t immediately realize how strong his performance had been. The results soon made it clear. Most competitors finished far behind him. Only a handful, including Swiss defending champion Marco Odermatt, came close, yet even he crossed the line nearly a second slower. With a strong lead and a course that was breaking down, Braathen, the final skier among the top 30 in the second run, maintained focus and secured victory by over half a second. This victory marks Brazil’s first in alpine skiing and the first Winter Olympic medal for any South American nation. Until now, South America, Africa, and Antarctica were the only continents without a Winter Games podium.