Monaco’s Winter Olympic hopes rest on a single athlete – alpine skier Arnaud Alessandria, who will represent the Principality at his third consecutive Winter Games.
Prince Albert II unveiled Monaco’s delegation at the Yacht Club de Monaco in late January, with Alessandria named as the sole competitor for Milan Cortina 2026. The 33-year-old previously competed at Sochi 2014 and Beijing 2022, where he achieved his best Olympic result with 13th place in the alpine combined.
Alessandria will compete in two events: the downhill on Saturday 7th February and the super-G on Wednesday 11th February. Prince Albert praised the skier’s determination and consistency at the highest international level, noting he would carry Monaco’s colours “with determination and pride.”
Alessandria embraces one-day pressure
“The Olympic Games are not a race like any other – it’s a global showcase, a one-day race where anything can happen,” said Arnaud Alessandria.
For the alpine skier, a successful performance means “having given the best of myself and taken pleasure” in the competition, reflecting an athlete comfortable with the expectations of representing Monaco on the world stage.
Near-misses acknowledged
Prince Albert, who competed in five consecutive Winter Olympics in bobsleigh between Calgary 1988 and Salt Lake City 2002, acknowledged athletes who came close to Olympic qualification. He specifically mentioned figure skater Davide Lewton-Brain and bobsledder Boris Vain, whose trajectories “demonstrate the deep commitment of our athletes, their coaches and the Monaco Olympic Committee.”
Unbroken Olympic tradition continues
Monaco has maintained an unbroken presence at the Winter Olympics since Sarajevo 1984, making Milan Cortina 2026 the Principality’s 12th consecutive Winter Games.
The Principality remains without an Olympic medal in sporting events across 33 total Olympic appearances (22 summer and 11 winter), though Alessandria’s 13th place at Beijing 2022 represents one of Monaco’s strongest Winter Olympics performances.
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Photo credit: Michael Alessi, Government Communications Department