“The important thing about the Olympic Games is not the winning, but the taking part. The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle.”
This quote from Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Olympic Games in 1896, used in Eddie the Eagle, a biopic about British ski jumper Michael “Eddie” Edwards during the 1988 Winter Olympics, rings true for three young skiers.
In the stories of Issa Laborde, Thabo Rateleki and Thomas Weir, it regains its edge. Across different geographies and circumstances, their paths into winter sport have been defined by resilience through extremely tough conditions – representing Kenya and South Africa in a discipline where participation alone demands extraordinary commitment.
Together, their journeys show that Africa’s presence on snow is no longer improbable, but steadily gaining ground.
Issa Laborde: The Alpine Bridge
At just 18, Issa Laborde became the first alpine skier to represent Kenya at the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026. Born near Alpe d’Huez to a Kenyan mother and French father, skiing was part of everyday life. “I was born in a ski resort… so skiing is natural,” he says. “I fell in love with this sport when I was really, really young.”
The idea to represent Kenya surfaced later. “I said to my coach, imagine I represent Kenya. He told me that could be really great for me and for my career,” Issa recalls. Soon after, his mother, Josephine, contacted Kenyan authorities, setting his international career in motion.
He made his debut at 16 at La Scara in Val d’Isère, before entering the 2024 Youth Olympics. Reaching Milano Cortina two years later required balancing school, training and financial constraints. “It’s difficult financially to train correctly… I tried my best with what I have.”
In 2026, he competed in the Giant Slalom, finishing 66th and ranking fourth among African skiers. The experience shifted his outlook. “I thought I might stop after 2026, but when I got there, I realised this is what I want to do. Now I have the ambition for 2030.” Giant Slalom remains his focus. “I like the balance with speed and technique.”
Now 19, he combines training with instructing at the École du Ski Français in Vaujany, building towards the next Olympic cycle.
Follow: @issa.laborde
Thabo Rateleki: From Tiffindell to the Youth Olympics
Thabo Rateleki’s journey from South Africa’s only ski resort at the time to the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne in 2020 remains a defining story in African winter sport. The then-17-year-old from Barkly East had never skied outside South Africa before competing internationally. However, at Les Diablerets, he completed both slalom runs, finishing 39th. “I’m so excited to have finished. The slope was very icy. But I did it,” he said.
He started at Tiffindell, where limited terrain did little to stifle ambition. “I started skiing when I was very small. My brother inspired me.” Training meant balancing school and long travel for weekend sessions. Results followed: gold in slalom at the National Championships in 2018 and further podium finishes in 2019.
Lausanne broadened his perspective. “Being in the Youth Olympics was a dream come true. I wanted to inspire more local teenagers. I learned about different cultures and different techniques. It was epic.”
Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of Tiffindell halted his progress. “It has been hard. I am no longer able to ski due to not having a slope.” In 2024, he returned to the sport as a coach in South Korea. “Being a South African champ and being a coach still stays in my heart.”
He now hopes to revive opportunities locally: “I would really like to get Tiffindell running again and introduce more young kids to the sport, so that most kids would get away from the streets and build something of their own.”
Thomas Weir: Olympic Debut at 17
At 17, Thomas Weir represented South Africa at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, competing in Giant Slalom and Slalom. Born in Switzerland to a South African father and French mother, he grew up training in Alpine conditions but competes under the South African flag. “It’s such an honour being able to represent my country in a sport that’s not big there yet,” he says.
While he finished 63rd in the Giant Slalom, he did not finish the Slalom on a demanding course. The experience was instructive. “Competing helped me a lot on the mental side… how to focus and be mentally ready.” Finishing one race mattered. “Even though my result was not the best, I did manage to finish.”
The Slalom, he notes, revealed just how fine the margins are. “It was a very tough race. Skiing is an unforgiving sport, and precision is key.” Based in Switzerland, he continues to train while keeping an eye on South Africa’s future in the sport, adding: “It would be great to be able to train in South Africa. I’m hoping that Tiffindell will get back up and running.”
His focus is now immediate, with his next major goal being to compete at the World Championships in Switzerland in 2027.
Follow: @thomasweir_ski
