LONDON: Saudi Arabian alpine skier Fayik Abdi says his historic participation at the Beijing Winter Olympics has inspired him to “do something really special” at the 2026 Games in Italy. Saudi Arabia’s first Winter Olympian finished 44th overall after his two grand slalom runs on Sunday. The 24-year-old admitted he did not ski his best in “really brutal” conditions, but
LONDON: Fayik Abdi could be forgiven for basking in the glory of becoming a Saudi Arabian national hero. The giant slalom skier has achieved the unthinkable by qualifying for the Beijing Winter Olympics after only seven months’ training and during a global pandemic. He is the first and only Saudi to have achieved this gargantuan feat, but the self-deprecating Abdi is eager to
He is the first and only Saudi to have achieved this gargantuan feat, but the self-deprecating Abdi is eager to avoid the limelight this Winter Olympics.