Italy’s Deromedis and Tomasoni complete dream one-two finish in Men’s Ski Cross

Five days after Italy ended a 34-year wait for a maiden Olympic Freestyle Skiing podium finish, they celebrated an extra two medals in the space of 0.21 seconds.

Simone Deromedis (ITA) and compatriot Federico Tomasoni (ITA) finished one-two at Livigno Snow Park to complete the hosts set of Freestyle Skiing medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, after Flora Tabanelli (ITA) claimed Big Air bronze with a torn ACL on Monday.

Deromedis and Tomasoni were quickest out the gate. Deromedis immediately established the lead and never looked back. Alex Fiva (SUI), in second for most of the race, was pipped to a photo finish by Tomasoni, and surprise big finalist Satoshi Furuno (JPN) settled for fourth.

Deromedis, fifth at Beijing 2022, said: "For the first time in history we did the first race of the season, one or two, the double podium is absolute, and to do it at the Olympics, I want to say it's great, better than this, we couldn't go (better)."

It was Fiva’s second medal after Beijing 2022 silver.

The 40-year-old said: "It went good, I have a medal. It was a really tough race. It was crazy, exhausting. My legs were burning after the first round."

In the first quarterfinal, Deromedis and Tomasoni, plus teammate Dominik Zuech (ITA), froze out favorite Reece Howden (CAN), ending the three-time Crystal Globe winner’s hopes of a first Olympic medal as he finished fourth.

Coming into his first Olympics, Tomasoni had never been on the World Cup podium, and neither had Furuno, who finished 26th at Beijing 2022.

Defending champion Ryan Regez (SUI) was fourth in the second semifinal and was not allowed to start the small final after making contact with Tim Hronek (GER). Terence Tchiknavorian (FRA) won the small final ahead of Hronek and Florian Wilmsmann (GER).

In winning gold, Deromedis replicated Regez’s Beijing 2022 feat, when he took gold after winning the last World Cup race before the Olympics at Idre Fjäll.

Deromedis finally won a World Cup on home snow in his last start at Val di Fassa last month, ending a six-year wait, and did not have to wait long to secure another victory in Italy.

Up Next

The World Cup resumes next week. The Kopaonik races will take place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February.