Malica Malherbe Becomes First Team South Africa Athlete to Compete at 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina

Milano Cortina, Italy – South Africa officially hit the slopes at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday as freestyle skier Malica Malherbe became the first Team SA athlete to compete.

The 21-year-old tackled the women’s moguls qualification, marking a historic moment for the nation.

Malherbe, born in British Columbia, Canada, finished 25th out of 29 starters in her opening run, clocking 30.39 seconds on the 245-meter course with a steep 28-degree gradient.

Her total score of 55.85 points combined 12.27 for time, 8.38 for air, and 35.2 for turns.

Second Chance in Moguls Qualification

Despite not making the top cut in her first attempt, Malherbe still has a shot at progressing to the consolation final.

The second round of qualification will take place on Wednesday, where she will need to finish in the top ten to advance to Final 2.

This gives her a fighting chance to improve on her initial result and continue South Africa’s presence on the international stage.

South Africa Sends Its Largest Winter Olympic Delegation

Team SA’s contingent this year is the largest the country has ever sent to a Winter Olympics, totaling five athletes.

This surpasses the four competitors who represented South Africa at the 1960 Squaw Valley Games in the United States.

The team is a mix of youth and experience: teenagers Thomas Weir (17) and Lara Markthaler (18), alongside Malherbe (21), Nicole Burger (31), and Matthew Smith (35).

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This blend demonstrates South Africa’s growing commitment to winter sports and investment in younger athletes.

Malherbe’s Winter Sports Record

This marks Malherbe’s Olympic debut, adding to a modest but steadily growing résumé in international competition.

She previously finished 27th at the Women’s Moguls World Championships in 2025, and her best World Cup result is 18th.

She also earned a 12th-place finish at the Junior World Championships, signaling promise for future competitions.

Her performance highlights the challenging transition from national to global competition, especially for athletes from countries with limited winter sports infrastructure.

What’s Next?

Team SA’s athletes will continue their campaigns over the coming days, with Malherbe aiming to improve her standing in the moguls event.

Observers are keeping an eye on Thomas Weir and Lara Markthaler, whose youth may bring unexpected breakthroughs.

The Winter Olympics are only just beginning, and South Africa’s record delegation is likely to make history through participation, personal bests, and hopefully podium finishes in the near future.

Summary

• Event: 2026 Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina, Italy

• Athlete: Malica Malherbe, 21, first Team SA competitor

• Performance: 25th out of 29 in women’s moguls qualification, 30.39 seconds, 55.85 points

• Team SA: Five athletes, largest South African delegation in Winter Olympic history

• Other Team Members: Thomas Weir (17), Lara Markthaler (18), Nicole Burger (31), Matthew Smith (35)

• Next Steps: Malherbe competes in the second qualification round to reach the consolation final; Team SA athletes continue competing across various events

South Africa’s presence on the snow may be small compared to traditional winter sport powerhouses, but each athlete is blazing a trail for future generations of Team SA competitors.