Samuel Uduigowme Ikpefan will be Nigeria’s sole representative at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, marking another historic chapter for the country at the Winter Games.
The 34-year-old cross-country skier is set to compete in two events — the Men’s Sprint Classic and the Men’s 10km Interval Start Free — when the Games run from February 6 to 22, 2026, in Italy.
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Ikpefan’s Olympic schedule will see him take to the snow in the Men’s Sprint Classic on February 8, before returning on February 13 for the Men’s 10km Interval Start Free race.
This will be Ikpefan’s second consecutive appearance at the Winter Olympics, having previously represented Nigeria at Beijing 2022, where he also served as the nation’s flagbearer.
He remains a trailblazer in African winter sports, standing as the first Nigerian and the first African male to qualify for cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympics.
His qualification for Milano–Cortina 2026 is particularly remarkable given the challenges he has overcome in recent years, including major surgeries on his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Despite these setbacks, Ikpefan returned to competitive skiing and secured qualification points on the international circuit.
Ikpefan is one of just 15 athletes representing the entire African continent at the 2026 Winter Games, underlining both the rarity and significance of his participation.
As Nigeria’s lone athlete in Milano–Cortina, Ikpefan once again carries the nation’s hopes on the global winter sports stage, continuing to inspire a new generation of athletes from non-traditional winter sports countries.
