Olympic dream shattered. Kenyan alpine skier Sabrina Simader withdraws from the Olympic Games
Sabrina Simader could have become one of the most extraordinary and talked-about figures at the Winter Olympic Games. In the end, that's exactly what happened—but not in the way she had dreamed. The 27-year-old alpine skier, who dedicated her life to the sport, announced her withdrawal from the Games at the very last moment, despite successfully qualifying.
According to Olympics.com, the reason was not her athletic form or competition, but rather issues in her relationship with, and lack of funding from, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.
After announcing her retirement last summer, Simader decided to make one final attempt—to return for the 2026 Olympics in Italy. However, that plan fell through. According to the athlete, her comeback turned into a series of setbacks and delays, and her interactions with the National Olympic Committee reached a dead end.
Simader admitted that she invested her own money to stay in shape, but bureaucratic hurdles proved insurmountable. Despite the blow to her Olympic ambitions, she has no intention of leaving the sport for good. Simader calls herself a pioneer of winter sports in Africa and is launching the Colourful Ski Camp project, aimed at giving future generations of skiers from countries where snow remains an exotic rarity a real chance.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
