Swedish Skicross Athletes Raise Safety and Speed Concerns Over 2026 Olympic Course in Livigno

As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina approach, significant concerns have emerged among Swedish skicross athletes about the course designed for the event, currently located in Livigno. Both reigning Olympic champion Sandra Näslund and veteran competitor Erik Mobärg have flagged issues regarding the course's speed and safety.

During initial training sessions, it became apparent that the course was too slow, with many athletes struggling to clear jumps, especially the final one. Mobärg pointed out that half of the male competitors chose to skip the last jump due to the slow speed and difficulty, stating, “It didn't work to race like this; they need to do something about it.” He further emphasized the flatness of the course is a key factor in reducing velocity and increasing risk.

The training itself has faced challenges, with heavy snowfall causing delays and forcing cancellations earlier, resulting in athletes having only limited time—just two days—to familiarize themselves with the course. Näslund indicated that the snowfall compromised the jump conditions, yet she remains cautiously optimistic about the technical quality of the course if speed improvements are made before continued testing.

Officials and organizers are now under pressure to implement urgent changes to address these safety and performance issues ahead of the scheduled competitions on February 20 and 21. Mobärg urged for a clear contingency plan against possible further snowfall, stressing that athlete feedback must be seriously considered despite limitations posed by the shared use of the venue with snowboard events.

Sweden’s Olympic skicross team includes Erik Mobärg and his siblings David and Linnea, alongside Sandra Näslund, marking a significant presence that is vocal on course conditions to ensure a safe and competitive Olympic event.

In summary, athlete feedback highlights the critical need to redesign parts of the course to boost speed and safety, amid challenging weather and tight preparation timelines, with organizers working to make essential adjustments before the Olympic debut of skicross in Milano Cortina 2026.