Meet Matt Smith, the 35-year-old South African cross-country skier making his Olympic debut at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games ❄️. Just three years ago, he’d never imagined trading his everyday life for frosty slopes—until a chance encounter with a Mexican skier in Norway changed everything.
💡 'You can’t be what you can’t see,' Smith told CGTN this week. After witnessing another warm-weather athlete thrive in winter sports, he asked: 'Why not me?' Now, he’s South Africa’s newest Olympian—proving it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
🏔️ Smith’s journey wasn’t smooth. Starting skiing in his 30s meant battling internal fears more than icy trails. 'The biggest hurdle was realizing fear isn’t a saber-toothed tiger—it’s something you push through,' he said, describing his 'learning cliff' of rapid skill-building.
🌟 Whether he medals or not, Smith wants his underdog tale to inspire more diversity in winter sports. His mantra? 'It’s about what you make of the journey.' With viral-worthy determination, he’s already breaking barriers—one snowy stride at a time.
