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The impressive line-up of champions didn’t disappoint at the third SkyGames® – the “high altitude Olympics” - held in the Italian Dolomites on July 18-20, with an array of champions and two new world records in the Vertical Kilometer®. With nearly 1,000 entries over the four events and athletes from 20 nations, Spain and Italy took the prestigious combined SkyGames® champion titles: Spain’s Kilian Jornet and Agustì Roc headed the combined ranking while Italy’s Antonella Confortola and Pierangela Baronchelli commanded the women’s category. The total points accrued in three of the races determined the two winners, but many of the participants took part in all four events. Day one saw the new Vertical Kilometer® course, created especially for the occasion, reduced by the night’s rainfall to a tricky test for even the best vertical runners. But the organizers needn’t have worried as two new world records were set in the 1,000m uphill struggle: 34’51” (men) and 33’59” (women). The sun helped athletes, organizers and the spectators’ spirits on day two’s racing programme with the SkyBike® duathlon and the afternoon’s SkySpeed® - 100 metres vertical climb. Sixhundred and fifty athletes took part in the Dolomites SkyRace® Sunday, many of whom had already been racing throughout the previous days. Spain and Italy were ranked equal with two gold medals each, while Andorra and France each gained a silver.
The FSA’s scientific research division didn’t miss the opportunity to test these top level athletes in the field with GPS, heart rate monitors and sophisticated altimeters, not just for certifying the records, but to study the athletes’ uphill performance. Blood and urine samples were taken from some of the top runners not only for anti-doping purposes, but for a new study on skyrunners’ DNA. The enormous success of all aspects of the event exceeded expectations of both organizers and athletes alike. The potential of high altitude sport is finally shedding its “extreme” tag and skyrunning has already started the countdown to 2012 and the “high altitude Olympics” - with a view to finally shedding the inverted commas. Thanks go to the athletes, organisers and supporters who see the mountains as a splendid sports arena, to be revered and respected, but also as a theatre for authentic human performance. Photos: LongLight® Full results: www.dolomiteskyrace.com Copyright Federation for Sport at Altitude - P.IVA 00648480077 | info@skygames.org | Webmaster Alessandro Serena
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Fourth overall, Britain’s Rob Jebb, who participated in all four events, was fourth in each of the races. Any guesses as to his bib number? Jebb (far left), the 2005 Skyrunning World Champion, had more luck with his team, the Fell Runners Association, who were ranked first.