News

How climate change is changing the way athletes train ahead of the Winter Olympics

SWVA Today · last updated

A live camera pans in every direction along the Rettenbach glacier in Soelden, Austria — a way to show the snow status at the resort in the Alps. Instead of blankets of snow everywhere leading into a season-opening World Cup ski race, the images reflected a light dusting — thanks to a recent snowfall — over the rocks, rubble and dirt.

kAm%96 ?@E23=6 6I46AE:@? H2D E96 >2;6DE:4 C:33@? @7 >2:?=J >2?F724EFC65 D?@H :? A=246 7@C E96 C246] vC2?E65[ :EVD 62C=J :? E96 D62D@? :? $@6=56?] qFE E9:D D@CE @7 >:?:>2=\D?@H D46?6 :D A=2J:?8 @FE 2== @G6C E96 A=2?6E] %96 4FCC6?E :>286D 2E r@AA6C |@F?E2:? :? r@=@C25@[ H9:49 :D 9@DE:?8 2 D6C:6D @7 }@G6>36C C246D[ D9@H @?=J 2 =:89E 4@2E:?8 @7 D?@H]k^Am

kAmpD t2CE9 H2C>D 2E 2 C64@C5 C2E6[ H:?E6CD 2C6 D9@CE6C 2?5 >:=56C 2?5 E96C6 :D =6DD D?@H 8=@32==J[ 4C62E:?8 4=62C 492==6?86D 7@C H:?E6C DA@CED E92E 56A6?5 @? 4@=5[ D?@HJ 4@?5:E:@?D] (:E9 =6DD E92? `__ 52JD F?E:= E96 |:=2?\r@CE:?2 (:?E6C ~=J>A:4 v2>6D 368:?[ >2?J 2E9=6E6D D2J 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D D92A:?8 E96:C EC2:?:?8 2?5 A6C92AD 6G6? E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96:C DA@CE]k^Am

kAmpD D?@H3@2C56C q62 z:> :D 7@4FD65 @? 62C?:?8 2 DA@E E@ C6AC6D6?E %62> &$p 2E E96 (:?E6C ~=J>A:4D[ D96VD 2=D@ E9:?<:?8 23@FE 9@H =@?8 D96 H:== 36 23=6 E@ 5@ H92E D96 =@G6D]k^Am

kAmQxV> H@CC:65[Q z:> D2:5[ Q7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 H:?E6C]Qk^Am

k9amr92D:?8 E96 D?@Hk^9am

kAmr2?25:2? 7C66DEJ=6 D<:6C |2C:@? %9é?2F=E EC2:?D :? E96 >@F?E2:?D 4=@D6 E@ 96C E62>VD 9@>6 32D6 :? “F6364 r:EJ] %H@ D62D@?D 28@[ E96J 4@F=5?VE ;F>A E96C6 F?E:= =2E6 :? E96 D62D@? 3642FD6 E96C6 H2D?VE 6?@F89 D?@H] x? y2?F2CJ[ E96J :?DE625 EC2:?65 :? !2C< r:EJ[ &E29]k^Am

kAmQ(6VC6 492D:?8 E96 D?@H[Q D96 D2:5] Q~?6 @7 E96 E9:?8D E92E :D D25 :D H6VC6 :?4C62D:?8 @FC 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E 3J 492D:?8 E96 D?@H[ D@ H6VC6 2=D@ 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ E96 AC@3=6>]Qk^Am

kAmp:C EC2G6= :D 2 D:8?:7:42?E 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86 3642FD6 3FC?:?8 ;6E 7F6= C6=62D6D 42C3@? 5:@I:56] r2C3@? 5:@I:56 EC2AD 962E :? E96 2E>@DA96C6[ H2C>:?8 E96 A=2?6E]k^Am

kAm%9é?2F=E 92D C65F465 96C @H? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E 3J E2<:?8 3FD6D 2?5 EC2:?D :?DE625 @7 D9@CE 7=:89ED[ ?@E 7=J:?8 9@>6 :? 36EH66? 4@>A6E:E:@?D 2?5 3:<:?8 2== DF>>6C] $96 :D H@C<:?8 H:E9 96C DA@?D@C[ 6?8:?66C:?8 7:C> ($![ @? 2 AC@A@D2= 7@C 4=FDE6C:?8 4@>A6E:E:@?D 86@8C2A9:42==J E@ C65F46 2:C EC2G6=]k^Am

kAmQpE E9:D C2E6 C:89E ?@H[ H6 2C6 ?@E >@G:?8 :? E96 C:89E 5:C64E:@?[Q D96 D2:5] QqFE H6 42? 5@ D@>6E9:?8 23@FE :E]Qk^Am

Italy’s Giulia Valleriani competes in the women’s World Cup giant slalom on Oct. 25 in Soelden, Austria.

Alessandro Trovati, Associated Press

k9ams62=:?8 H:E9 D>@<6 2?5 D=FD9k^9am

kAm(96? D>@<6 7C@> r2?25:2? H:=57:C6D A@FC65 :?E@ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E9:D DF>>6C[ p>6C:42? 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ D<:6C yF=:2 z6C? EC2:?65 :? 2 8J> :?DE625 @7 C@==6C D<::?8 @FED:56]k^Am

kAmr=:>2E6 492?86 :D :?4C62D:?8 E96 7C6BF6?4J 2?5 :?E6?D:EJ @7 H:=57:C6D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] pD 2? 6=:E6 2E9=6E6 H9@ C6=:6D @? 96C =F?8 DEC6?8E9 E@ 4@>A6E6[ z6C? 4@F=5?VE C:D< 3C62E9:?8 :? F?962=E9J 2:C]k^Am

kAmQ!6@A=6 @7E6? ;FDE E9:?< 23@FE E96 H:?E6C 2?5 E96 D?@HA24<[Q D96 D2:5] QqFE H6VC6 D66:?8 :>A24ED ?@H :? @FC DA@CE 2=D@ H9:=6 H6VC6 EC2:?:?8 :? E96 DF>>6C]Qk^Am

kAmx? E96 H:?E6C[ z6C? :D AFCA@D67F==J EC2:?:?8 >@C6 @7E6? :? D=FD9J 4@?5:E:@?D 3642FD6 C646?E H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:AD 92G6 366? H2C> 2?5 D=FD9J] $96 92D 4FE @77 E96 D=66G6D @7 96C F?:7@C> 2E E96 DE2CE @7 C246D 3642FD6 :E H2D H2C>6C E92? D96 H2D 244=:>2E65 E@]k^Am

kAmz6C? FD6D 96C A=2E7@C> E@ 25G@42E6 7@C 4=:>2E6 24E:@?]k^Am

kAmQtG6CJ@?6 92D 2 492?46 E@ 492?86 @FC 7FEFC6 7@C E96 36EE6C[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am

k9amw2G:?8 2 324<FA A=2?k^9am

kAm$@FE96C? tFC@A6[ H96C6 2E9=6E6D[ 4@2496D 2?5 DA64E2E@CD H:== 82E96C :? 62C=J a_ae[ :D @?6 @7 E96 72DE6DE H2C>:?8 C68:@?D] %96 2>@F?E E96 2G6C286 H:?E6C E6>A6C2EFC6 92D C:D6? E96C6 D:?46 a___ :D 4@>A2C23=6 E@ E96 2>@F?E @7 E6>A6C2EFC6 :?4C62D6 :? E96 pC4E:4[ H9:49 :D Q6J6A@AA:?8[Q D2:5 yF529 r@96?[ 2 G:D:E:?8 D4:6?E:DE 2E E96 |2DD249FD6EED x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J H9@ DA64:2=:K6D :? H:?E6C H62E96C 2?5 7@C642DE:?8]k^Am

kAm%96 5C2>2E:4 492?86D :? E96 pC4E:4 2C6 4@>A=:42E:?8 E96 :>A24E @7 4=:>2E6 492?86 6=D6H96C6[ r@96? 25565] $@>6 A=246D 2C6 ?@H 6IA6C:6?4:?8 >@C6 D6G6C6 H:?E6C H62E96C H:E9 >@C6 D?@H 3642FD6 E96 C2A:5 H2C>:?8 :? E96 pC4E:4 5:DCFAED E96 A@=2C G@CE6I[ D6?5:?8 7C:8:5 2:C D@FE9]k^Am

kAm%96 :?4@?D:DE6?E H62E96C >2<6D :E >@C6 492==6?8:?8 E@ AC6A2C6 2E9=6E6D E@ 4@>A6E6 2E >2;@C 6G6?ED =:<6 E96 ~=J>A:4D[ D2:5 $@A9:6 v@=5D49>:5E[ rt~ @7 &]$] $<: U2>Aj $?@H3@2C5[ H9@ 25565 E92E 324<FA A=2?D 2C6 ?66565]k^Am

kAmQ(6VC6 92G:?8 E@ 36 >@C6 7=6I:3=6[ H9:49 F=E:>2E6=J 4@DED >@C6 >@?6J E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E @FC 2E9=6E6D 42? 86E E96 C:89E 2?5 36DE 4@?5:E:@?D E@ EC2:? @? 2E 5:776C6?E A@:?ED :? E96 J62C[Q D96 D2:5] Qp?5 E92E >62?D @7E6? 492?8:?8 A=2?D 2?5 >@G:?8 =@42E:@?D]Qk^Am

kAm%96 7FEFC6 @7 E96D6 DA@CED :D Q5:C64E=J E:65 E@ E96 962=E9 @7 @FC A=2?6E[Q v@=5D49>:5E 25565]k^Am

Marion Thenault of Canada jumps to a third place finish at the FIS freestyle world cup women’s aerials on Feb. 10, 2024 in Lac-Beauport, Canada.

Karoline Boucher, The Canadian Press

k9amu:?6 =:?6k^9am

kAm}@CH68:2? D<: C246C p=6<D2?56C p2>@5E z:=56 H2?ED E@ >2<6 2 5:776C6?46 H:E9 4=:>2E6 492?86] qFE E96 EH@\E:>6 ~=J>A:4 >652=:DE 2=D@ C62=:K6D 96 C246D :? 2 DA@CE E92E EC2G6=D E96 H@C=5 E@ 4@>A6E6 2?5 FD6D E@?D @7 H2E6C E@ >2?F724EFC6 D?@H 7@C C246D]k^Am

kAmQx 2> 566A 5@H? E96C6 7@C 2 4=:>2E6 DA64:2=:DE @C 24E:G:DE] %96J AC@323=J =@@< 2E >6[ D2J:?8[ V*@F 2C6 ?@E 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8] *@F 2C6 2 325 C@=6 >@56=[VQ z:=56 D2:5] Qx H:D9 x 4@F=5 5@ H2J >@C6]Qk^Am

kAmQx 2> ?@E 2? 6IA6CE[Q 96 25565] Qx 2> ?@E 2 A@=:E:4:2?] x 5@?VE <?@H >F49 23@FE 4=:>2E6] x <?@H H92E x 5@ :D D<::?8 2?5 E92E ?665D D?@H]Qk^Am

k9am~? E96 9@>6 7C@?Ek^9am

kAmvC@H:?8 FA :? p?49@C286[ p=2D<2[ 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<:6C vFD $49F>2496CVD A=2J8C@F?5 H2D 2=H2JD 9:D 324<J2C5] w6V5 4=:4< :?E@ 9:D D<:D 2?5 G6?EFC6 @FE :?E@ E96 D?@HJ H:=56C?6DD]k^Am

kAm{2DE y2?F2CJ[ H96? 96 H6?E 9@>6[ E96C6 H2D 32C6=J 2?J EC246 @7 D?@H] w6 D2:5 :E H2D QAC6EEJ 56AC6DD:?8]Qk^Am

kAm$49F>2496C :D A2CE @7 Q!C@E64E ~FC (:?E6CD[Q 2? 2E9=6E6\5C:G6? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 8C@FA] w6 2=D@ DA@<6 :? |2C49 a_ac 2E 2 $6?2E6 962C:?8 @? 4=:>2E6 492?86 2?5 :ED :>A24E @? @FE5@@C C64C62E:@?[ 2? 6IA6C:6?46 96 7@F?5 8C2E:7J:?8 J6E :?E:>:52E:?8]k^Am

kAmw6 ?@E:46D 4=:>2E6 492?86 2C@F?5 tFC@A6 3FE 6DA64:2==J :? 9:D p?49@C286 324<J2C5]k^Am

kAmQxEVD AC6EEJ 62DJ E@ E6== H96C6 W8=24:6CDX FD65 E@ 36 3J E96 G686E2E:@? 8C@HE9 2?5 E96 C@4<[Q $49F>2496C D2:5] Q%92EVD 2 AC6EEJ DE2C< C6>:?56C]Qk^Am

Snow partially blankets the mountain landscape on Oct. 24 in Soelden, Austria.

Marco Trovati, Associated Press

k9am#@==:?8 2=@?8k^9am

kAm%@ EC2:? 367@C6 E96 D?@H 72==D[ >6>36CD @7 E96 &]$] D<: >@F?E2:?66C:?8 DBF25 C6=J @? D<:D @? H966=D] %96C6VD 2 A2G65 42?J@? C@25 :? &E29 E96 E62> FD6D 7@C 42C5:@ H@C< E92EVD 23@FE a[d__ 766E @7 6=6G2E:@? 82:?]k^Am

kAm$<: >@F?E2:?66C:?8[ H9:49 >2<6D :ED ~=J>A:4 563FE E9:D H:?E6C[ 4@>3:?6D EC6<<:?8 FA9:== 367@C6 EC2?D:E:@?:?8 E@ D<::?8 5@H?9:==] xEVD 2 C246 E92E D6?5D E96 962CE A@F?5:?8]k^Am

kAm%92EVD H9J $2C29 r@@<=6C[ E96 9625 @7 DA@CE 7@C &]$] D<: >@F?E2:?66C:?8[ AC@G:56D 2 D9FEE=6 D6CG:46 E@ EC2?DA@CE >6>36CD @7 E96 E62> E@ E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 C@25] $96 A:4<D E96> FA 2E E96 E@A]k^Am

kAmp?JE9:?8 E@ DE2J :? E:A\E@A D92A6 8:G6? E92E C6=:23=6 D?@H 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 364@>:?8 =6DD 56A6?523=6] $2>6 8@6D 7@C C246 52J[ H9:49 :D H9J 4@>A6E:E:@?D >2J ?665 E@ 36 96=5 2E 9:896C 6=6G2E:@?D]k^Am

kAmx? s646>36C[ 2 (@C=5 rFA D<:\>@F?E2:?66C:?8 6G6?E H:== 36 96=5 2E $@=:EF56 |@F?E2:? #6D@CE :? &E29] %96 6=6G2E:@? @7 E96 >@F?E2:?VD 32D6 :D f[hhc 766E — 9:896C E92? EJA:42= tFC@A62? C246D] %@ 86E 244=:>2E65[ D6G6C2= :?E6C?2E:@?2= E62>D A=2? E@ 2CC:G6 :?E@ &E29 EH@ H66<D 62C=J]k^Am

kAmQ%92EVD ;FDE H96C6 H6 >2J 92G6 E@ 8@[Q r@@<=6C D2:5] Q%96C6VD ?@ W4@?D:DE6?EX D?@H 2E =@H 6=6G2E:@?D 2?J>@C6]Qk^Am

A view of the giant slalom course on Oct. 25 in Soelden, Austria reveals only light snow in the region.

Alessandro Trovati, Associated Press

k9am~77 2?5 CF??:?8k^9am

kAm~7 4@FCD6[ E96C6VD 2=H2JD ;FDE 8@:?8 7@C 2 CF?] p>6C:42? D<: >@F?E2:?66C r2> $>:E9 :D 5@:?8 >@C6 @7 E92E E96D6 52JD 2D 2 H2J E@ DE2J :? 6?5FC2?46 D92A6 @G6C E96 H:?E6C — ;FDE :? 42D6 96 42?VE EC2:? @? D?@H]k^Am

kAmw6VD ?@E:465 2 5:776C6?46 2E 4@>A6E:E:@?D :? E96 p=AD 2?5 !JC6?66D]k^Am

kAmQq6:?8 4=@D6C E@ E96 @462?D[ :EVD 366? 2 9F86 5:776C6?46 E96C6 3642FD6 E96JVG6 8@EE6? H2J >@C6 >:5\H:?E6C C2:?[Q $>:E9 6IA=2:?65] Q}@E @?=J :D E96C6 =6DD D?@H 72==:?8 3FE E96? E92EVD H2D9:?8 2H2J E96 D?@H 2=C625J @? E96 8C@F?5] xEVD 366? C62==J DE2C< 2?5 ?@E:4623=6]Qk^Am

kAmk6>mp! $A@CED (C:E6C p?5C6H s2>A7 2?5 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD (C:E6C tC:4 (:==6>D6? 4@?EC:3FE65] %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DDV 4=:>2E6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!VD DE2?52C5D 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^p!]@C8Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^6>mk^Am

2024 pairs world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are hoping to qualify for their first Olympic Games, and when the cauldron is lit at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, at 42 and 34 years of age, they will likely be the oldest pairs team in history to participate.

CBC — Sports

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!