Top alpine skiers have raised alarm over accelerating glacier loss during the Winter Games in Cortina.
Lindsey Vonn said many glaciers she trained on as a child have already disappeared.
Mikaela Shiffrin called the changes a “front-row view” of climate impact.
Federica Brignone said the retreat threatens the planet, not just skiing.
Scientists report Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s.
Losses have accelerated sharply in the past two decades.
Glaciers near Cortina have shrunk to small ice patches high in the Dolomites.
Athletes rely on glaciers for early-season training because they provide reliable snow.
Warmer temperatures now expose rock, crevasses and meltwater, forcing schedule changes.
Some traditional training sites are no longer usable.
The nearby Marmolada glacier has halved in size in 25 years.
It could almost disappear by 2034 if warming continues.
Limiting global heating to 1.5°C would preserve more Alpine ice and extend its lifespan.
Researchers say glacier loss threatens water supplies, increases mountain hazards and raises sea levels.
Since 2000, the world has lost more than 6.5 trillion tonnes of ice.
The number of viable Winter Olympic host locations is expected to shrink.
Many skiers are now calling for faster emissions cuts and environmental action.
They warn the future of their sport depends on decisions made this decade.
