As the 2026 Winter Games get started, here are some of the ways Olympic athletes are stepping up to take climate action.
Simader, Kenya’s trailblazer on snow, will compete in Alpine Skiing at her third Olympic Games, further cementing her status as the face of Kenyan winter sports. She made history at PyeongChang 2018 a
"Being a flagbearer is a huge opportunity for me, a good opportunity to tell the story of the values the Olympics focus on. It's a good opportunity for me as a Kenyan and an African to hold the flag and represent people who value integrity and love sport in their hearts and minds," Kipchoge told Xinhua via video on Thursday.
For Kipchoge, this moment signals a graceful transition from competitor to global sports statesman. After his final Olympic race at Paris 2024, the honour crowns a 20-year career and aligns with his current role as Male Athletes’ Representative at the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.
Two Kenyans, Sabrina Wanjiku Simader and Issa Laborde, will compete in Alpine Skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, marking Kenya's bold winter sports debut.
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African nations make Winter Olympic history
Even though the Olympics connect the global village, the Winter Games remain a distant dream for Africa, a continent where snow and ice are hard to find. Winter sports face high barriers from the start.
No short list of athletes to watch at an Olympics is ever complete. But here are our picks for 26 of the biggest non-U.S. names to watch.
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