One of just five South African athletes to compete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, cross-country skier Matthew Smith's Olympic journey has been anything but typical.
There is no legal way to watch the Winter Olympics in South Africa, which leaves local fans no option but to do without, or engage in stream piracy.
South Africa has sent its largest team to the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, since 1960. Team South Africa includes two teenagers, Thomas Weir (17) and Lara Marthaler (18), both of whom will compete in Alpine Skiing at the Winter Games which starts on Friday.
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Africa at the Winter Olympics - South Africa sends five athletes to Milano Cortina
South Africa are set to be the best-represented African country at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics (Feb. 6-22), with five athletes expected to participate among a total 13 from the continent.
Fourteen athletes from eight African nations are set to compete at the Winter Olympics, marking a significant increase from Beijing 2022.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has announced Matthew Smith and Nicole Burger as the flagbearers for Team SA for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Five South African athletes will take part in the nations parade along the Corso Italia pedestrian street in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
South Africa fields its largest Winter Olympics team ever at Milano Cortina 2026, showcasing rising talent in winter sports and challenging global perceptions.
Winter Olympics Milan-Cortina dates, venues, events, athletes, sports, schedule and costs as Italy hosts the Winter Games across multiple cities.
Athletes from around the world are in the Italian Alps for the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday – including 13 sportspeople from eight African countries. Though the continent isn't associated with winter sports,
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