Leading South Africa’s record five-athlete squad, Malica competed in women’s moguls, while the rest of the team gears up for skeleton, cross-country skiing, and more during this exciting week of the Winter Olympics.
Milano Cortina, Italy (13 February 2026) – South Africa’s presence at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is off to an exciting start, with freestyle skier Malica Malherbe becoming the first Team SA athlete to compete this week. The 21-year-old tackled the women’s moguls qualification on Tuesday, finishing 25th with a total score of 55.85 points, including 12.27 time points, 8.38 for air, and 35.2 for turns over the 245m course with a 28-degree gradient. This marks Malica’s Winter Olympics debut, building on her World Championships and World Cup experiences where she has steadily climbed the ranks in her discipline.
The 2026 Team SA delegation is the largest the country has ever sent to a Winter Games, surpassing the four athletes who went to Squaw Valley, USA, in 1960. Alongside Malica, the team also includes Nicole Burger, Matthew Smith, Thomas Weir and Lara Markthaler, each ready to make their mark on the global stage. These games will see Team South Africa break new ground for athletes and inspire future generations to aim high in sports not traditionally associated with the country.
Today, South African fans can expect action from Nicole in the skeleton at 5 PM local South African time, and Matthew in cross-country skiing at around 12:45 PM. These events provide a chance for the other members of the team to shine, following Malica’s groundbreaking debut.
Anticipation is building for the performances of the rest of the squad, with supporters eager to cheer. For more information on how to watch the Winter Olympics, follow the link here.
To see Team South Africa’s full results and details of the athletes they are competing against, follow this link:
https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule/rsa
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