As the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics conclude this week, Kenya's solitary representative Issa Laborde remains focused on building winter sports momentum in his mother's homeland. The 24-year-old alpine skier carried Kenya's flag at both opening and closing ceremonies after teammate Sabrina Simader withdrew from competition due to financial constraints.
Laborde, who holds dual French-Kenyan citizenship, finished 45th in the Men's Giant Slalom on February 23 – a position he calls "a starting point" for African winter sports development. "Every Olympic journey begins with one step," he told reporters. "I'm already training plans for 2030."
The athlete's participation highlights both the growing diversity of winter sports and the challenges faced by tropical nations. With temperatures rising in traditional ski regions, Laborde suggests climate-conscious adaptations could create new opportunities: "Maybe future Kenyan athletes will train on artificial slopes at home."
