South African athlete Matt Smith is set to break new ground as the country’s first cross-country skier to compete at the Winter Olympics in more than 10 years, an unlikely achievement for a nation better known for rugby fields than snowy slopes. Smith, a 34-year-old former tech entrepreneur from Cape Town, secured a quota spot for the 2026 Winter Olympics in northern Italy, becoming only the second South African in history to compete in Olympic cross-country skiing. The last athlete to do so was Oliver Kraas at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
His journey into the sport began just three years ago after he relocated to Norway in 2022. Confronted with long, icy winters, Smith took up cross-country skiing and struggled through early tumbles and technical challenges. His turning point came after learning about Mexican Olympian Alan Daniel Corona, who had successfully competed despite coming from a non-winter nation. Motivated, Smith reached out to Snow Sports South Africa and secured recognition as a national athlete. To earn official eligibility, he self-funded his campaign, trained intensively, and met performance benchmarks needed for a Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) code in 2023. He now trains full-time in Oslo’s world-famous Holmenkollen ski arena.
Known as the “Snowbok,” Smith says representing South Africa in an unfamiliar sport is a privilege. “In the beginning I was embarrassed to wear the South Africa kit,” he said. “I was shaky on the skis. But it’s not about how you fall it’s about rising. Now I’m proud to show my country’s colors.” While Smith is not expected to contend with global giants like Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, he hopes to finish as the top athlete among emerging winter-sport nations such as Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Peru. His broader mission is to inspire more African athletes to enter winter disciplines.
Off the snow, Smith works as a motivational speaker, using his platform to encourage resilience, ambition, and new sporting possibilities in South Africa. He believes his Olympic journey can expand South Africa’s sporting horizons. “I want to smile, wave, and represent South Africa with pride,” Smith said. “That’s the true Olympic spirit. If my story gets even one young South African to chase a dream that looks impossible, then it’s all worth it.”
