Leading Alpine racers including Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and Federica Brignone have voiced alarm over rapidly shrinking glaciers.
They say the changes are visible from Olympic host Cortina d’Ampezzo, where ice once seen from town has largely disappeared.
Italy has lost more than 200 square kilometres of glacier area since the late 1950s.
Scientists report the decline has accelerated in the past two decades.
Many smaller glaciers in the Dolomites have already been reduced to residual ice.
Skiers rely on glaciers for reliable early-season training.
Vonn said most of the glaciers she used as a child are now gone.
Shiffrin called the transformation a “front-row view” of climate change.
The retreat has safety and environmental consequences.
The Marmolada glacier has halved in 25 years and partially collapsed in 2022, killing 11 people.
Melting ice threatens water supplies, increases mountain hazards and raises sea levels.
Researchers say limiting warming to 1.5°C could preserve about 100 Alpine glaciers.
Higher temperature rises could see many disappear within decades.
Athletes warn fewer cold regions will be able to host future Winter Olympics.
Skiers across several nations report less snow, more exposed rock and dangerous crevasses on training slopes.
Some are campaigning against fossil-fuel sponsorship in winter sport.
They say the decisions taken this decade will determine whether glaciers – and their sport – survive.
