Nigeria Makes Fourth Consecutive Appearance at Winter Olympics
Nigeria has once again made its mark on the global stage, participating for the fourth consecutive time in the Winter Olympic Games, specifically the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
This remarkable streak began in 2018, when Nigeria made its debut at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea.
That historic first appearance saw Nigerian athletes compete in two events: Bobsleigh, represented by Seun Adigun and her two brakewomen, and Skeleton, represented by Simidele Adeagbo. Their participation generated significant international attention and marked a new chapter for Nigerian sports.
The current Games are running from February 6 to 22, 2026, in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
Continuing Nigeria’s winter sports journey, Samuel Ikpefan proudly represented the nation in Cross-Country Skiing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and now returns to carry the torch once again.
Originally from Edo State, Ikpefan resides in France and strategically moved his training to Switzerland in preparation for the current Games. He has expressed confidence that he is in better form than at his Olympic debut in Beijing, drawing on the experience gained there.
While realistic about his medal prospects, Ikpefan is fully committed to delivering his best performance, embodying Nigeria’s growing presence in winter sports.
Unfortunately, Simidele Adeagbo, who competes in Monobob and Skeleton, did not qualify for Milano-Cortina. Bobsleigh qualification is determined by world ranking, and Adeagbo’s 26th-place ranking fell just short of the top 25 approved by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.
According to Mrs. Kemi Obidahunsi, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) official accompanying Team Nigeria, Ikpefan is the lone Nigerian qualified for the Games based on continental qualifications. Only eight African athletes across different disciplines are competing at Milano-Cortina 2026.
The Nigerian delegation is led by NOC President, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel.
