Gipuzkoa will finally have three representatives at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympic Games. To the well-known Lucas Eguibar and Álvaro Romero … Arrietta Rodríguez now joins, securing a place and returning to Euskadi the female presence in a winter Olympic event 28 years later.
The skier from San Sebastian will be part of the Spanish delegation along with the two snowboarders, all of whom have received scholarships from the Basque Team Foundation. The Spanish Olympic Committee made public this Tuesday the final list of the 20 state athletes who will compete in Italy from February 6 to 22, a call in which Gipuzkoans represent 15% of the national team and up to 33% if only snow sports are considered.
Arrietta Rodríguez’s classification also represents a relevant novelty with respect to the Beijing 2022 Games, where Euskadi had two male representatives. On this occasion, one more athlete joins and, furthermore, a woman, something that has not happened since the participation of Ainhoa Ybarra, present in four Olympic editions between Calgary 1988 and Nagano 1998.
At 23 years old, Rodríguez has established himself as one of the references in state alpine skiing. The 2025/2026 season has confirmed his progression, with victories and podiums on the European FIS circuit and an increasingly solid presence in the European Cup, where he has competed since 2023. He arrives in Milan-Cortina with room for growth and the ambition to measure his skiing on the biggest international stage.
Arrietta Rodríguez herself shared the news on her social networks with a message full of emotion. “I am still not fully aware that this is happening, but I suppose that, as they say, all work has its reward,” wrote the skier, who acknowledges that she is fulfilling “a great dream” after “so many years of sacrifices and effort.” The woman from San Sebastián was “full of pride and happiness” for being able to represent Spain in the Olympic Games and assured that she will give “everything I have” and that she will “ski with her heart.” In his message he wanted to thank the support received throughout the journey – the federation, coaches, medical staff, Basque Team and the sporting environment – and dedicated some special words to his family, in particular his parents, “without whose support none of this would have been possible.” He concluded his message with a wink to his city, “what a great day for this news! Gora Donosti!
Eguibar and Romero on snowboard
Next to her will be Lucas Eguibar, the great reference of state snowboarding, who will face his fourth Olympic Games after Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022. World champion in 2021, runner-up in 2017 and winner of the Crystal Globe in 2015, the San Sebastian native brings experience and competitive weight to the delegation.
The trio is completed by Álvaro Romero, who will experience his senior Olympic debut in Italy. Bronze at the Lausanne Youth Games, junior world champion in 2023 and regular on the international circuit, the San Sebastian snowboarder represents the new generation that pushes from behind.
Eguibar and Romero will compete in snowboardcross on February 12 in Livigno, while Arrietta Rodríguez will start in the alpine ski slalom on February 18 at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Three Gipuzkoans, three different trajectories and the same flag on the Olympic snow.
