French pair Emily Harrop and Thibault Anselmet added mixed relay gold to their individual medals as ski mountaineering concluded at the Winter Olympics on Saturday following a successful debut.

Harrop had won silver in the women's sprint on Thursday while Anselmet took bronze in the men's sprint. Two days later they were combined for glory in the Olympic relay just as they had in last year's world championships.

"The Olympics is the top of any athlete's dream," said Harrop, who was born in the French Alps to British parents. "To be in the top place today with such a strong field out there, it's just crazy."

They completed the course in 26 minutes 57.44 seconds, beating Switzerland's women's sprint gold medallist Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler by 11.86 seconds.

Spain claimed bronze thanks to Ana Alonso Rodriguez, the individual bronze medallist, and men's gold medallist Oriol Cardona Coll. Spain's only three medals so far at the Milan/Cortina Games have come in the three ski mountaineering event.

The sport, often known as skimo, is the only new sport at the Games.

It has its origin in backcountry or off-piste skiing. Athletes first climb a hill course with special skins over their skis. A steps section is also included where they have the skis on their backs. They then ski back down the hill.

The sport was added to the Olympic programme because it is booming and has a long history in host country Italy. Organizers hope to stay on the programme for the next Games in 2030 in the French Alps.

Fatton felt skimo's Games debut had gone well, with the difference between the Olympics and normal competition clear.

“Here there's so much crowd and energy and so many people to cheer for us. And good music," she said. “It's amazing.”