CAPE TOWN, Nov 19 (AGCNewsNet) – South African athlete Matt Smith is set to make history as the nation’s first Winter Olympian in more than a decade after securing a quota spot in cross-country skiing for the 2026 Games in Northern Italy.

The 34-year-old Cape Town native, nicknamed the “Snowbok,” only took up the sport less than three years ago after relocating to Norway in 2022. Initially drawn to Norway’s snowy terrain out of necessity, Smith soon embraced cross-country skiing with a passion, despite a steep learning curve marked by frequent falls. Inspired by Mexican Olympian Alan Daniel Corona, he contacted Snow Sports South Africa and began the process of earning accreditation as a national athlete.

Smith self-funded his Olympic pursuit, demonstrated his fitness, and secured his Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) code in 2023. He now trains in Oslo’s Holmenkollen, one of the global centers of the sport.

His qualification marks South Africa’s first participation in Olympic cross-country skiing since Oliver Kraas competed at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

“When I started, I was embarrassed to wear the South Africa kit,” he said. “I was wobbly, but I realized it’s about rising, not how you fall. Now I’m proud to show my country’s colors.”

Smith is not aiming for the podium but hopes to be the top finisher among athletes from smaller nations, including Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Peru. His broader ambition is to pave the way for increased South African representation in winter sports and inspire athletes from countries with little snow to pursue unconventional paths.

Away from competition, Smith works as a motivational speaker, using his journey to highlight resilience, perseverance, and the value of pursuing unlikely dreams.

“I want to smile, wave, and represent South Africa with pride, because that’s the true Olympic spirit,” he said.

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