At just 26 years old, Kenyan-born Sabrina Simader has already carved her name into history books, by becoming the first-ever alpine skier to represent Kenya at the Winter Olympics.
Now, with the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games just a year away, she is setting her sights on another challenge, determined to make an even bigger impact.
Sabrina’s journey to international recognition began in 2016 when she competed at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
At just 17 years old, she had already set goals for her career, including competing in FIS races, World Cups, and World Championships, all while targeting the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.
Two years later, she achieved that dream, becoming Kenya’s first competitive alpine skier at the Winter Olympics and only the second Kenyan to compete at a Winter Games.
Speaking after a recent race with the Olympic media team, Sabrina said that she was proud to represent Kenya on the global stage.
“I hope I can inspire more Kenyans and athletes from other nations to pursue winter sports and be brave enough to step into alpine skiing,” she said.
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Sabrina Moves from Kenya to Austria
The Olympian moved from Kenya to Austria at the age of three. Her stepfather, Josef, introduced her to skiing immediately and was also her first coach.
She told the Olympics team, that his passing left her with valuable lessons about enjoying life and skiing.
“I’m really glad that he brought me to this wonderful life, to Austria, and taught me skiing at three years old. And yeah, he always taught me to have fun and enjoy and yeah, I really miss him,” she said.
Additionally, her mother Sarah, has been a strong source of support. She noted that her mother always took her to training, and frequently attends her competitions.
However, her grandfather was a bit more cautious. The first time he saw her skiing, he was really scared.
He looked up at the mountain and said, ‘No, that’s not a good sport,’” Sabrina recalled.
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How She Connects with Kenya
Sabrina remains deeply connected to her Kenyan roots. Her signature “snow leopard” ski suit is a powerful representation of her identity, blending the African leopard symbol with the snowy environment of alpine skiing.
“The combination of the leopard from Kenya and the snow, it’s my brand,” she explained.
Most recently, Simader competed at the FIS Alpine World Cup 2025 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, participating in the women’s Super-G event.
Her journey is no longer just about personal achievements, it is about paving the way for more African athletes to enter winter sports.
Further, she hopes her story will encourage more Kenyans and Africans to embrace alpine skiing and challenge the narrative that winter sports are limited to certain regions.
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