Johannesburg-born Matt Smith has qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Itally.
Image: Supplied
South African-born skier Matthew Smith realised a dream this week after qualifying for the winter olympics in the cross country skiing discipline in Trondheim, Norway.
Smith is currently competing at the Nordic World Ski Championships and completed the cross-country men's 7.5km Interval Start Classic qualification race in a time of 25:07:7. The 34-year-old, who’s been skiing for less than five years, needed to finish the race within five minutes of the leader. China’s Kuerbangjiang Wuerkaixi finished first with a time of 20:32:2.
This automatically qualified Smith for a spot at the Winter Olympics to represent South Africa in the Cross Country discipline.
The advantage was given to Smith because he represents what is known as a ‘non skiing’ nation and thus, athletes from said countries are given a headstart to make up for the shortfall.
“I made it. Qualified for the Olympics,” an excited Smith told Independent Media this week.
Smith is competing in the 1.5km qualifying race on Thursday to secure another spot for the Winter games in Italy next year.
The former Cape Town resident was fighting to secure one of 144 spots, which is how many men compete in the cross country race.
Wednesday’s race was Smith’s chance to secure that spot, and secure he did.
Smith’s journey to the Olympics took just three years, after throwing himself into the world of cross country skiing because of an unquenched thirst to represent his country at the highest level. He’s also expecting his first child with his wife Cecilie.
The 2026 Winter Olympics Games will be held in across Lombardy in northeast Italy, Milan's San Siro hosting the opening ceremony. Teh Gmaes begin on Februart 6, 2026.
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