Tag: Mialitiana Clerc

African Participation at the 2026 Winter Olympics

On By Dr. Y.In Great MomentsLeave a comment
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics took place in Milan and Cortina, Italy this year, last month. The African participation at these Winter Olympics reached a historic high, with 15 athletes representing 8 African nations, competing across multiple winter sports. After PyeongChang 2018, this is the second time in the history of Winter Olympics that Africa is set to be represented by 8 countries. This marked the highest show from the continent at a Winter Game, reflecting steady growth in representation and investment in winter-sport pathways.

Mialitiana Clerc (Source: Olympics.org)

The 8 countries were Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Eritrea, Madagascar, Morocco, Kenya, and South Africa. Benin and Guinea-Bissau had their debut appearance. South Africa fielded its largest-ever Winter Olympic team, with 5 athletes. These 8 countries were represented by 15 athletes competing in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, skeleton, and other individual disciplines. Mialitiana Clerc represented Madagascar, becoming the first African woman to compete in three winter olympics.

Map of Africa

The athletes were Nathan Tchibozo of Benin and Winston Tang of Guinea-Bissau giving their country’s first time participation at the Olympics in Alpine Skiing, Samuel Ikpefan of Nigeria in Cross country skiing, Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda from Eritrea in Alpine skiing, Mialitiana Clerc and Mathieu Gravier from Madagascar in Alpine Skiing, Pietro Tranchina competing in alpine skiing and Abderrahim Kemmissa in cross-country skiing both from Morocco, Issa Laborde from Kenya in Alpine skiing; Lara Markthaler in alpine skiing, Malica Malherbe in freestyle skiing, Matthew Smith in cross country skiing, Nicole Berger in skeleton, and Thomas Weir in alpine skiing all representing South Africa.

There were no medals, but we are very proud of these athletes who showed great courage and resilience and patriotism to represent their countries.

As a side note, I would like to give a shout out to an American junior cousin duo skating pair whose parents are originally from Benin, formed by Anaelle Kouevi and Yann Homawoo. They are a rising US junior ice dance team; they won the US Novice Bronze medallists in 2024, and have not yet participated at the Olympics. They show great promise and we are also proud of them.

Africa at the South Korea Winter Olympics 2018

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments3 Comments

Pyeongchang 2018We have evolved since the days of the 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The African and Black presences at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics has more than quadrupled: 8 African countries are represented at these Olympics with a total of 13 athletes; Nigeria is featuring its First Bobsleigh Team ever, and it is all female! We also note that the Togolese athletes Alessia Afi Dipol, and  Mathilde Amivi Petit Jean have come back from 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics to compete at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics; we applaud their endurance. I guess some of our brothers and sisters have lived in Northern countries, and enjoy these winter sports to the point of competing in them. We raise our hats to them. Below are the African athletes to watch for, and cheer for this year.

Africa
Africa

Eritrea : Shannon Adeba – Alpine skiing

Ghana : Akwasi Frimpong – Skeleton

Kenya : Sabrina Simader – Alpine skiing

Madagascar : Mialitiana Clerc – Alpine skiing

Morocco : Adam Lamhamedi – Alpine skiing

                   Samir Azzimani – Cross-country skiing

Nigeria : Akuoma Omeoga – Bobsleigh

                Moriam Seun Adigun – Bobsleigh

                Ngozi Onwumere – Bobsleigh

                Simidele Adeagbo – Skeleton

South Africa: Connor Wilson – Alpine skiing

Togo : Alessia Afi Dipol – Alpine skiing

           Mathilde-Amivi Petit Jean – Cross-country skiing

There are more brothers and sisters of African descent competing at these Olympics as well: 7 from the United States (with the multiple champion Shani Davis who has been a joy to watch in speed skating since the 2006 Turin Olympics), 4 from France (including 2 in figure skating), 3 from Brazil (all in bobsleigh),  5 from Canada (all in bobsleigh), 3 from Jamaica (with Jamaica first female bobsleigh team ever) and 5 from Great Britain (all in bobsleigh). I may have missed some, and if you see one I did not account for, let me know. We raise our hats to those athletes proudly representing their nations, and cheer them to victory!