Milano Cortina 2026: Meet the five athletes representing Team South Africa at the Winter Olympics
Winter Olympics
From the slopes of the Alps to the icy skeleton track, five South Africans are ready to make history at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Keep an eye on Lara Markthaler, pictured, and Thomas Weir in the alpine events, and don't miss flag bearers Matthew Smith and Nicole Burger at Friday's opening ceremony. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
While South Africa is traditionally celebrated as a summer sporting powerhouse, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, norther Italy, will see a small, but determined, contingent of athletes taking part at the Games from this weekend.
Trading their sun-drenched home for the sub-zero temperatures of the Italian Alps, Team South Africa will be represented by teenage alpine skiing duo Lara Markthaler and Thomas Weir, as well as Malica Malherbe (freestyle skiing), Matthew Smith (cross-country skiing), and Nicole Burger (skeleton).
Born in Munich to a German father and South African mother, the 18-year-old Markthaler has honed her skills on the international circuit after skiing since she started walking. Markthaler has become the face of South African winter sports and will compete in the slalom and giant slalom. Notably, she is the first South African female ski racer to compete at the Winter Olympics.
Joining her on the slopes is 17-year-old Weir, a rising star in the men's alpine disciplines. Weir is known for his fearless attacking style and will also compete in the slalom and giant slalom.
The 21-year-old Malherbe is set to tackle one of the most physically demanding disciplines at the Games. Competing in the moguls and dual moguls, the freestyle skiing starlet must navigate a field of large snow bumps with speed and technical turns, while launching off two jumps to perform aerial manoeuvres.
Nicknamed the “Snowbok”, Smith qualified for the Winter Olympics in the cross-country skiing discipline in Trondheim, Norway, exactly a year ago. Incredibly, the 35-year-old former Cape Town resident took up the sport only a few years ago after selling his tech business before “throwing the kitchen sink” at his new ambition.
A natural athlete, Burger, before throwing her full weight into snow sports, fostered hopes of representing South Africa in rugby sevens with the aim of making it to the Olympics. Now, the 31-year-old will realise her dream when she competes in South Africa’s colours as the country's first female skeleton slider.
Smith and Burger have been selected as the flag bearers for the opening ceremony this Friday.
SASCOC has also confirmed the incentive structure for the team: any athlete who wins gold at the Games will be awarded R400 000, with the coach receiving R100 000. Silver medallists will earn R200 000 (R50 000 for the coach), while the bronze medal payouts will be R75 000 and R25 000, respectively.