At the 2026 Milan·Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, an ‘openly transgender’ athlete in a winter sport stood on the snow for the first time ever.

Elise Lundholm (23, Sweden) finished 25th in the women’s moguls qualifying in Livigno, Italy, on the 12th, missing the final for the top 16. Yet the athlete drew much attention. After the race, Lundholm said, “I competed under the same conditions as the other athletes, and I just skied.”

The LGBTQ sports outlet Outsports reported before the competition that Lundholm would be the first ‘openly transgender athlete’ to compete at the Winter Olympics. According to Olympedia, a statistics site approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), more than 20 transgender athletes have taken part in the Summer Games, but none had competed at the Winter Olympics.

Born female, Lundholm currently identifies as male. However, Lundholm has not undergone medical or legal gender transition procedures such as hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery. Under the rules, therefore, Lundholm competed in the women’s field according to the sex designated at birth. The Swedish Ski Association also stated, “Since no medical intervention has been undertaken, there is no discussion of an unfair performance advantage.”

On some social media, questions continued over whether it is appropriate for an athlete with a male identity to compete in the women’s category. Competitors, however, struck a different tone. U.S. representative Tess Johnson said, “It is remarkable that Lundholm is competing as the first transgender Winter Olympian,” adding, “We are all here to ski and to enjoy it.”

Lundholm said, “I hope everyone can be themselves and do what they want to do,” and added, “Above all, I want all athletes to compete fairly with each other.” Lundholm also offered a general stance on the International Ski Federation (FIS) move to introduce genetic sex testing, saying, “I hope everyone can compete fairly.” The policy is being discussed as a way to tighten the criteria for eligibility in women’s events going forward, following the example of World Athletics.

In recent years, international sport has been revising standards regarding gender identity and eligibility to compete. Under the leadership of Chair Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is creating integrated guidelines related to transgender athletes in women’s events. In the United States, by contrast, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee has taken measures that effectively restrict transgender women from competing in women’s events in accordance with an executive order by President Donald Trump, revealing differences in national policies.

From the late 1960s for roughly three decades, the Olympics mandated sex testing for women’s event participants for the issuance of ‘femininity certificates,’ but abolished it amid controversies over human rights violations and scientific limitations. “I am happy just to have finished today’s run,” Lundholm said, adding this message for young athletes: “Simply live as yourself and do what you want to do.”