Samuel Ikpefan will be Nigeria’s only athlete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where he is set to compete in cross-country skiing, extending the country’s modest but growing presence at the Winter Games, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 33-year-old, who was born and raised in the French Alps, becomes Nigeria’s sole representative for a second consecutive Winter Olympics, having also competed at Beijing 2022.
In China, Ikpefan finished 73rd in the men’s sprint free and opted out of the 15km classic after experiencing Covid-19 complications, but still carried Nigeria’s flag during the closing ceremony.
At Milano Cortina 2026, Ikpefan is scheduled to race in the men’s sprint classic on Sunday, February 8 at 1:25pm Nigerian time before returning to competition in the men’s 10km interval start free on Friday, February 13 at 11:45am.
The Games are expected to feature 2,900 athletes from 92 countries, competing across 16 sports in 116 medal events.
Ikpefan’s international record includes multiple appearances at the FIS Nordic World Championships, with finishes ranging from the sprint events to distance races up to 15km.
His most recent world championships outing came in Trondheim in 2025, where he competed in both sprint and distance events, continuing a steady presence on the elite international circuit.
Nigeria made its Winter Olympics debut at Pyeongchang 2018, sending Seun Adigun, Akuoma Omeoga and Ngozi Onwumere as a team of three athletes in bobsleigh alongside skeleton racer Simidele Adeagbo.
The country returned in Beijing 2022 with Ikpefan as its sole competitor, while Seun Adigun, part of the historic 2018 team, attended in a medical role and carried the flag at the opening ceremony.
Ikpefan’s participation in Milano Cortina will make him the first Nigerian athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics twice.
The country is yet to win a medal at the Winter Games, with all of its 80 Olympic medals coming from the Summer Olympics.
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