Top Alpine skiers have raised alarm over the fast retreat of glaciers during the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
They say climate change is already reshaping the mountains where they train and compete.
Lindsey Vonn said many glaciers she used as a child have almost disappeared.
Mikaela Shiffrin called the changes deeply personal because glaciers are central to the sport.
Italy’s Federica Brignone said the retreat worries her more for the planet than for skiing.
Scientists report that Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s.
Glaciers near Cortina have shrunk by about one third in recent decades.
The Marmolada glacier, the largest in the Dolomites, has halved in 25 years and could largely vanish by 2034 under current warming.
Athletes say the impact is visible every season.
Training routes now contain exposed rock, crevasses and flowing water.
Early-season snow is becoming unreliable.
Researchers warn that glacier loss threatens water supplies, increases mountain hazards and contributes to sea level rise.
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C could preserve around 100 Alpine glaciers and extend Marmolada’s lifespan.
Many skiers are now calling for stronger climate action and an end to fossil fuel sponsorship in winter sports.
They say the future of their sport depends on decisions made this decade.
