Sabrina Simader: Why Kenya's First Female Winter Olympian Has Come Out of Retirement

Kenyan alpine skier Sabrina Simader is set to make a dramatic return to the slopes, reversing her recent retirement to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Austria-based athlete, who hung up her skis in July, will once again represent her nation after securing a quota spot for the Games.

Simader's comeback is a significant moment for Kenyan winter sports. She will be joined by fellow alpine skier Issa Laborde, marking the first time two athletes from the East African country will compete at the same Winter Olympics.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Last July, the 27-year-old, a trailblazer for African winter sports, announced she was ending her career due to financial difficulties, despite having qualified for her second Olympics.

Simader, who made history as Kenya's first female Winter Olympian, had decided to "gratefully close a chapter." However, the confirmation of her Olympic spot prompted a change of heart, and she will now compete in what will be her second Games.

Known as the "Snow Leopard"—a nickname blending her Kenyan heritage with her passion for the snow—Simader has been a prominent figure in alpine skiing. After moving to Austria as a child, she honed her skills and made her international debut at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games, becoming the first African female alpine skier to compete.

Two years later, she proudly carried the Kenyan flag at the PyeongChang 2018 opening ceremony, becoming only the second winter Olympian from her country after cross-country skier Philip Boit. Her participation in the Downhill and Super-G events captured global attention.

Even before her brief retirement, Simader had expressed her excitement about the upcoming Games. "The Olympic Games are always really special and one of the biggest events, and I'm really looking forward, especially as it’s in Cortina," she said during the 2025 Alpine World Cup as per. "I just enjoy it, to be here and to make it until here. It wasn't always easy. I'm really happy.”

Simader's return is supported by an Olympic Solidarity scholarship, which assists athletes from diverse backgrounds by covering training, equipment, and travel costs. The program is designed to ensure talented competitors have an equal opportunity to reach the Olympic stage.

As a pioneer, she hopes her journey will encourage others to follow in her tracks. "I hope I can inspire more Kenyans and also other exotic nations to get into winter sport and alpine skiing, to be brave enough," she stated.

Her presence in Cortina alongside Issa Laborde, who represented Kenya at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon, signals a growing legacy for a nation not traditionally associated with snow sports.