Africa is represented by about 15 athletes from eight countries at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the continent’s largest athlete delegation in Winter Games history, according to official Olympic figures.

The athletes are competing in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing and skeleton, disciplines in which African participation has historically been limited.

The competing countries include Benin, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.

Benin and Guinea-Bissau are making their Winter Olympics debuts, while several others are returning after intermittent participation in recent editions.

This year’s event features about 2,900 athletes, 92 national Olympic committees, 16 sports and 116 medal events, according to official figures from the Olympic Committee.

South Africa is fielding the largest African delegation, with five athletes competing in four disciplines.

The country has maintained structured winter sports programs supported by overseas training partnerships and athlete diaspora pathways.

“This is the biggest delegation that the country has ever sent to a Winter Games. All five are experiencing their first Winter Olympics at senior level,” the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee said ahead of the opening of the Games in Italy on Friday.

Nozipho Jafta, CEO of the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the athletes’ presence at the Games has attracted significant positive media attention in South Africa and abroad.

“We believe this will push more South African youngsters to dream bigger. We look forward to seeing them all donning the green and gold of Team SA on Friday,” she said.

Historical context

Africa has participated in the Winter Olympics since 1960, though representation has fluctuated widely from one edition to another.

The previous athlete peak came at the 2018 PyeongChang Games, with 13 competitors from eight African countries, while Beijing 2022 saw participation fall to six athletes from five nations.

No African country has secured a Winter Olympic medal.

Participation has focused on maintaining visibility, gaining technical experience and building future athlete pipelines.

Broader significance

The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), an international organization based in Abuja, Nigeria, that brings together the 54 African national Olympic committees, praised the athletes on Friday, according to a statement.

ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf commended the “historic participation of African athletes, who are competing in four disciplines this year, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing and skeleton.”

The athletes demonstrate that Africa’s Olympic dreams know no bounds and transcend climatic and geographical barriers.

Their presence is rewriting expectations and showing resilience and determination alongside traditional winter sports powers, a testament to the courage and perseverance that define African sport, the statement added.

African Athletes Competing at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics