More than the Score: When will Africa win its first Winter Olympic medal?
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What is the significance of Africa's participation in the Winter Olympics?
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. When you open the double stick, it starts happening. Take the snowmobile and then go down. Enjoy the delicious taste and adventure of the double stick. Come on, adventure.
Hi, I'm Emily Thomas from the Global News Podcast. And as the Winter Olympics get underway in Italy, we thought you'd enjoy hearing our podcast More Than The Score from the BBC World Service. It tells sports stories from beyond the score sheet. And in this episode, they're asking, when will Africa win its first Winter Olympic medal? You can listen to the whole episode right here.
What challenges do new countries face in competing at the Winter Olympics?
I hope you enjoy it.
I'm Lee James and this is More Than The Score, the multi-sport global podcast from the BBC World Service that tells stories from beyond the score sheet. More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will be competing for 195 medals at the Milan Cortina Winter Games. It's been over six decades since an African nation made its debut, but when will the continent win its first Winter Olympic medal?
The African nations of Benin and Guinea-Bissau will make their historic debuts at the 2026 Games. But with the established winter sport nations such as Norway, the USA, Canada and Germany looking to dominate the medal table once again, how hard is it for new countries to compete on the world stage? South Africa is sending its largest ever team with five athletes. But six decades since an African nation made its debut, the continent's first medal remains elusive. We'll be joined by Africa's sleigh queen, the snow leopard and the snow bok. First of all, it's Simidele Adiagbo, who became the first Nigerian to compete at the Winter Olympics in 2018 and was the first black female Olympian in the sport of skeleton, along with Matt Smith, who only took up the sport three years ago and is now going to be South Africa's sole cross-country skier in the 2026 Olympics.
How does Matt Smith feel about representing South Africa in the Olympics?
Hello to you both. Welcome. Thanks for having me.
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Matt, first of all, you're only the 16th South African in Winter Olympic history to qualify for the Games. What will representing your country at your first Olympics mean to you?
It's been a childhood dream. I'd always dreamt of being a springbok. My nation is very famous for our rugby team, right? And now today they call me the snowbok.
What does Simidele Adeagbo hope for African representation in winter sports?
So I've... It's a nice reminder that not all dreams come true in the way you expected them. But actually, I would say that it's shaped in a more beautiful way and a more fitting way. So I'll take the snowboard happily.
And Simi, you'll know exactly what this feels like having competed in 2018 in Pyeongchang. You must be so proud of what you achieved in the sport to be a part of the Olympic Games.
Yeah, it's a special achievement. And so I just want to start by congratulating Matt. I think this is just so awesome. And I wish you all the best in Milano Cortina.
What barriers exist for African athletes in winter sports?
And I love that. That snowbuck, like that is... That's so awesome. And it was really powerful to hear how you described kind of like this Olympic dream that has come to life in a very different way than maybe you originally expected, but it's come to life nonetheless. And that really resonates with me because that's my story as well. I started in track and field and that was my original Olympic dream to be a summer Olympian. But then it took shape at the Winter Olympics in a way that was very unexpected, but even actually more sweet in a way because it was so historic for the continent of Africa. So I applaud you for continuing that history, paving the path for more Africans. And I think it's so awesome to keep that door wide open.
So congratulations.
How is the qualification system for cross-country skiing structured?
Thank you. I think it's such a unique point in time, Cindy, because we are at an inflection point, I find, because I'm proud to say that whilst I'm referred to as a snowbox, actually, I'm part of the snowbox because South Africa is not sending me. This is the first games in history we're sending more than two athletes. We're actually sending five athletes. So it's very groundbreaking what's happening right now.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the significance of Africa's participation in the Winter Olympics?
0:00–1:01
2
What challenges do new countries face in competing at the Winter Olympics?
1:01–2:26
3
How does Matt Smith feel about representing South Africa in the Olympics?
2:26–2:48
4
What does Simidele Adeagbo hope for African representation in winter sports?
2:48–3:22
5
What barriers exist for African athletes in winter sports?
3:22–4:13
6
How is the qualification system for cross-country skiing structured?
4:13–4:56
7
What role does community play among athletes from non-traditional winter sports nations?
4:56–5:52
8
When can we expect to see Africa win its first Winter Olympic medal?
5:52–26:32