SI:AM | Get Ready for an Awesome New Olympic Sport

Ski mountaineering will make its Winter Games debut on Thursday. Here's why you should watch.

DAN GARTLAND Good morning, I'm Dan Gartland. It's been a tough Olympics for Team USA's top figure skaters, huh? First, Ilia Malinin bombed out of the men's singles event, then Amber Glenn placed 13th in the women's short program yesterday.  In today's SI:AM: 🏀 AJ Dybantsa's unusual path 👎 Purdue falls in big game 🇺🇸 USWNT roster analysis Time to fall in love with skimo Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Consider this a public service announcement: One of the most compelling events of these Winter Olympics will take place on Thursday.  Ski mountaineering (or skimo for short) is the newest sport on the Olympic program. Even though you probably haven't heard of it, skimo may just become your new favorite Olympic event. In the simplest possible terms, skimo involves skiing up a mountain and then skiing back down. But there's a lot more to it than that. Let's get into all of it.  CONTINUE DAN'S COLUMN ON SI Join the Traina Thoughts Newsletter Jimmy Traina's lively, media-savvy newsletter explores the intersection of sports, pop culture and off-beat viral moments across the media landscape. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE! The best of Sports Illustrated In today's Digital Cover, Bryan Fischer goes inside how AJ Dybantsa's unconventional decision to lift BYU basketball to unprecedented heights. Fischer also argues that North Carolina has much bigger problems than making a decision on coach Hubert Davis's future. Preseason No. 1 Purdue has failed to live up to expectations. Kevin Sweeney explores where things have gone wrong for the Boilermakers. In his preview of the 2026 offseason QB carousel, Conor Orr writes that Kyler Murray and the Jets feel destined for one another. Ben Steiner analyzes the upcoming 2026 MLS season, starting with a comprehensive preview of how things will play out in the Western Conference. Theo Lloyd-Hughes breaks down the latest USWNT roster announcement, headlined by the return of Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson.  Amanda Langell reports on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kylian Mbappé's support for Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior after he was the target of alleged racist abuse on Tuesday night. Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE! Adam Pretty/Getty Images 👀 The top five ... … things I saw yesterday:  5. Michigan State forward Coen Carr's emphatic block. I've featured some amazing dunks by Carr here before, but his athleticism pays off on the defensive end as well.  4. Speaking of which, here's a great slam by Carr.  3. The court storming after Rhode Island upset No. 18 Saint Louis for the Rams' first victory over a ranked team since 2017 (when Dan Hurley was the coach).  2. Oregon forward Dezdrick Lindsay's ridiculous dunk.  1. The men's big air ski final. It was amazing to watch the athletes continue to outdo each other. There were nine scores of at least 95 over the three rounds, including a 98.50 by Norway's Tormod Frostad to win gold.  The best of SI Video Chris Mannix is joined by former Hawks executive and NBC Sports' NBA insider Grant Liffmann to break down a loaded NBA conversation coming out of All-Star weekend. Mannix and Liffman talk about how Adam Silver's latest comments on tanking spark a deeper conversation about competitive integrity, and they look ahead to the playoff race. Join the SI Boxing Newsletter Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix provides a weekly spotlight, featuring in-depth reporting and sharp commentary, on the biggest fights and stories inside the ring. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 155 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 202 New York, New York 10013 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2025 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or texting 800GAM. Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.