Here’s Your SA Squad for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Byron Lukas

With only 11 days to go until the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, SASCOC has confirmed the five athletes selected to represent Team South Africa on the global stage.

The Games take place from 6 to 22 February and mark a historic moment for South African winter sport. This is the country’s largest Winter Olympics delegation to date, surpassing the four athletes who competed at Squaw Valley in 1960.

A Historic Team Selection

The 2026 squad features a mix of youth and experience across snow sport disciplines.

Two teenage athletes headline the team. Thomas Weir, 17, and Lara Markthaler, 18, will both compete in Alpine skiing. They are joined by Malica Malherbe, 21, in Freestyle skiing, Nicole Burger, 31, in Skeleton, and Matthew Smith, 35, in Cross-Country skiing.

All five athletes will make their Winter Olympics debut.

For Markthaler, the Games mark her first senior Olympic appearance after competing at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in Gangwon.

Experienced Leadership

Three-time Winter Olympian Alex Heath has been appointed Chef de Mission. His Olympic experience includes:

Nagano 1998
Salt Lake City 2002
Turin 2006

His leadership brings valuable insight as Team South Africa prepares for competition in Italy.

SASCOC President Barry Hendricks welcomed the announcement.

“It always brings great pleasure to announce any team that will represent South Africa at a multi-coded Games, with the Winter Olympic Games being the pinnacle for any athlete participating in snow sports,” he said.

Financial Incentives for Podium Finishes

SASCOC also confirmed performance incentives for medal winners.

Gold medalists will earn R400 000, while coaches will receive R100 000.
Silver medalists will earn R200 000, while coaches will receive R50 000.
Bronze medalists will earn R75 000, while coaches will receive R25 000.

SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta highlighted the broader impact of participation.

“Team South Africa has always competed with pride at the Winter Olympic Games. We expect the same pursuit of excellence in Milano Cortina. Beyond podium finishes, we hope their representation inspires younger athletes to believe that winter sport is within reach,” she said.

Did You Know?

Bruce Warner represented South Africa at the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano, Japan.

Team South Africa: 2026 Winter Olympics Squad

Men
Thomas Weir – Slalom and Giant Slalom
Matthew Smith – Cross-Country skiing

Women
Lara Markthaler – Slalom and Giant Slalom
Malica Malherbe – Freestyle skiing
Nicole Burger – Skeleton

Coaches
Robert Weir
Christian Markthaler
Ole Ensrud
Rhys Thornbury

South Africa at the Winter Olympics

1960 Squaw Valley – 4 athletes
1994 Lillehammer – 2 athletes
1998 Nagano – 2 athletes
2002 Salt Lake City – 1 athlete
2006 Turin – 3 athletes
2010 Vancouver – 2 athletes
2018 Pyeongchang – 1 athlete

Multiple Winter Olympians include Alex Heath, with three appearances, and Oliver Kraas, with two.

As Team South Africa prepares to take on the world in Milano Cortina, this record-breaking squad represents both progress and promise for winter sport in the country.