Among the 14 African athletes at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, Samuel Ikpefan was the sole representative of Nigeria. The 34-year-old cross-country skier, now living in Switzerland, was competing in his second Olympics. He finished 65th in the classic sprint and 94th in the 10-kilometer race. He reflects on his experience in Italy for Francs Jeux.
What is your assessment of these Games?
It was truly a magnificent event. The organizers and volunteers were incredibly welcoming, friendly, and helpful. It was a welcome change from Beijing, even though the volunteers there were fantastic. This time, it felt closer to home for families and the public. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible, even in the village at Predazzo. The enthusiasm of the fans both outside and inside the stadiums was phenomenal.
From a sporting perspective, how do you assess your results?
I was aiming much higher in the sprint. I was in great shape and I lost a bit of energy on the clincher in the classic style. I have mixed feelings because I could have done better, but it didn't work out the way I wanted. In the 10K, I got sick the day before. I finished six minutes behind, I did what I could with what I had on race day. These setbacks meant I wasn't at my absolute best, but I was still happy to be there, to finish my races. It's a great personal achievement, especially knowing that my summer training was disrupted by meniscus surgery in September. My ligament is torn, I was out for three months before resuming training in mid-November.
Were you afraid of missing the Games?
Yes, it scared me a bit. I was well looked after in Engadine, in the canton of Grisons. They made sure I was well prepared so I could get back to it as quickly as possible. I lost some hours and training volume, but I still managed to qualify, so I'm happy.
Did you have expectations regarding the atmosphere and the Olympic Village, after a truncated experience in Beijing?
I had no expectations, I just wanted to see. I was happy to be able to move around, not be confined. I really made the most of it. The atmosphere among all the athletes was fantastic. I met some great athletes like Johann André Forfang and Gregor Deschwanden in ski jumping. We had a good laugh together. These are exceptional moments, the kind you can only experience at the Olympic Games – or at the World Championships, where three disciplines are combined. It was a little sad not to be with the biathletes or those from other disciplines, but among ourselves, it was pretty great. The only downside is that our National Olympic Committee created pins but didn't accept them. I'm really disappointed, and I didn't hesitate to tell them so. Pins are more important than anything at the Olympic Games; they're what really creates a bond, they're very important among the athletes.
How did you prepare for these Games?
I've been training on my own for two years. I haven't had any help, I don't have a coach, no partnership with a team. Things are complicated with my federation… Since 2022, I haven't received anything from Nigeria, which is one of Africa's leading economic powers. I'm managing on my own. Fortunately, I received an Olympic scholarship to have some basic financial resources.
How has Olympic Solidarity helped you?
We receive a grant of $6.000 every four months, starting two years before the Games. It's a kind of supplemental salary. That's roughly €1.300 a month, and it allows us, for example, to pay for accommodation or some equipment if we have training camps. Without the Olympic grant, I would never have been able to compete where I did and afford what I needed. Without the grant, I wouldn't have been able to continue competing at a high level. I worked part-time, and my salary allowed me to make ends meet, even though I was barely scraping by. I paid for my own outfits and equipment. Salomon gives me a discount on my skis; I still need to finish paying for them.
What work do you do outside of competitions?
I have three jobs: I currently work in a sports shop, I work for a management/marketing company, and in the winter, I teach cross-country skiing. I'd like to continue doing all of that, and by 2030, I'll be doing it at home. But for that to happen, I'd need to find private sponsors and for my country to allocate me, through its sports commission, an amount each year so I can reduce my working hours and train more.
Do you think you can convince them?
This year, my head of the NOC was here. My president and secretary general stayed in Milan, but I spoke to them on the phone. Two people from the Ministry of Sport also came to Predazzo to meet with me and see how things were going. We had a good discussion. Normally, in the spring, I'll go back to Abuja to meet with the Ministry of Sport. I've built a large community, I've put Nigeria on the winter sports map, and it's gained momentum within the country. I've raised the profile of Nigeria. People there are aware now. They can no longer hide the fact that they haven't given me anything since 2022. I've been clear with them: if I don't receive anything from my country, everyone will know, and I won't be able to participate in the Olympic Games again. It's a two-way street; if you want to have athletes at the Winter Games in 2030, you have to help them.
In terms of visibility, were these Games a success for you?
Yes, at this level, it's a success. I've given quite a few interviews, and I've received a lot of positive feedback from the Nigerian diaspora. Now, many people follow me in the United States, Canada, South America, and so on. Nigerians have had their eyes opened. In Beijing, I received less media attention. What really gave me a boost was the opening ceremony. People weren't expecting to see Nigeria at the Winter Games. It allowed them to see that they also had an athlete, and that gave me momentum. I hope it continues in this direction so I can secure sponsorship contracts. I'd like to be able to afford to bring a technician with me and build up a supply of wax so we can do tests outside of competitions. At the Games, I waxed my training skis myself before going on the slopes.
There were only a handful of African athletes at the Games. What does it mean to be one of them?
It's a source of pride to compete against major nations. My father is Nigerian, and I grew up with that culture. I have family in Nigeria, and I visit often. We're proud to represent Africa, even though most of us live in Western countries. It's difficult to live in Africa if you want to perform well; we don't have significant resources for winter sports, so it forces us to relocate. The most remarkable thing is that we've shown we have athletes in different disciplines, and that's quite an achievement. Now, we need to change mindsets in Africa at the ministerial and committee levels to provide more resources. I'm convinced that one day, if we have the same resources as some of the major European nations, we could have an African medalist in the coming years.
