Team South Africa will send its largest-ever team to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina. It will send five athletes selected by SASCOC to compete from February 06 to 22, 2026.
Reportedly, the team will include Thomas Weir and Lara Marthaler (Alpine skiing), Malica Malherbe (Freestyle), Nicole Burger (Skeleton) and Matthew Smith (Cross-country skiing). Team SA will represent South Africa on the world stage.
All five athletes are set to make their Olympic debuts in Italy. For Markthaler, the Games will mark her first appearance at a Winter Olympics after previously representing South Africa at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon.
This year’s selection surpasses South Africa’s previous largest Winter Olympic team, consisting of four athletes, which was sent to the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley. In total, 12 athletes have represented the country across seven previous Winter Games, with South Africa seeking its first Olympic medal as the team heads to Milano Cortina.
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🇿🇦 Team South Africa will send its largest-ever team to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano–Cortina, with five athletes selected by SASCOC to compete from 6–22 February 2026.
The team includes Thomas Weir and Lara Marthaler (Alpine skiing), Malica Malherbe… pic.twitter.com/X08ceSRtp2
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) February 7, 2026
Congratulating the athletes that have been announced, President of SASCOC – Barry Hendricks said that, “It always brings great pleasure to announce any team that will represent South Africa at a multi-coded Games, with the Winter Olympic Games being the pinnacle for any athlete participating in snow sports.”
Hendricks then went on to announce that, to reward the performance of the athletes, financial incentives would be put in place.
- Any athlete who wins gold will be awarded R400,000, with the coach receiving R100,000.
- Silver medallists will earn R200,000 and R50,000.
- While the bronze medal payouts will be R75,000 and R25,000 for the athlete and coach, respectively.
Some twelve (12) different athletes have represented Team SA in seven previous Winter Games’, although both Heath (three different Games) and Oliver Kraas (two Games) have been multiple representatives. South Africa is still to win a medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
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CEO of SASCOC – Nozipho Jafta, said of the squad that, “Team South Africa has always competed with pride at the Winter Olympic Games. This edition we expect similar, in the pursuit for excellence.”
“We wish them every success and assure them that they have the support of the entire nation behind them. Beyond the quest for podium finishes, we hope that their representation of the country will inspire a lot more younger athletes to follow their dreams to one day be a part of the Winter Olympic Games in the future,” confirmed Jafta.