Saudi Arabian alpine skiing star Fayeq Abdi is preparing to turn a new page in his inspiring sporting career as he continues his participation in major international competitions. Next Monday, he will compete in the slalom race at the renowned Stelvio ski resort in northern Italy. This participation is part of a series of championships that represent key preparation stages on the road to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Historical background and unprecedented achievement
Faiq Abdi embodies Saudi Arabia's sporting ambition in winter sports, becoming the first Saudi athlete ever to participate in the Winter Olympics, at the Beijing 2022 Games. This achievement was not merely symbolic participation, but rather the culmination of years of dedicated work and the beginning of a new era for winter sports in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia seeks to expand its base of practitioners and solidify its presence on the global sporting stage across various disciplines, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Strong performance and global challenges
Abdi had finished his participation on Saturday in the giant slalom race, held on the same course, achieving a total time of 2:53.41 minutes after completing the two runs. The competition saw wide participation from 81 skiers representing the elite athletes of the world, reflecting the scale of the challenge and the value of the experience gained. His participation received significant official support, represented by the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and head of the Saudi delegation participating, which confirms the importance that the sports leadership attaches to this historic participation.
Importance and future impact
Abdi's participation transcends the boundaries of athletic competition, representing an inspiring message to Saudi and Arab youth, proving that willpower and sound planning can overcome geographical and climatic barriers. Locally, these participations contribute to spreading awareness of winter sports and attracting new talent, particularly with ambitious projects like Trogina in NEOM. Regionally and internationally, raising the Saudi flag at these events enhances the Kingdom's standing as a rising sporting power, opens new horizons for cooperation and the exchange of expertise in winter sports, and highlights the great diversity of the modern Saudi sporting landscape.
