Nigeria’s first two-time winter Olympian, Ikpefan aims for 2030 glory
Samuel Ikpefan arrived at the mixed zone wearing a smile of contentment and pride despite his exhaustion after completing the men’s 10km interval start free event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games on February 13.
He may not have executed his run as perfectly as he had hoped, but crossing the finish line at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in front of a loud, passionate crowd meant so much more to him. “I’m happy that I finished my race,” the 34-year-old said.
“It was my first skating race of the season. So, the first skating race in the Olympic Games distance, I’m really glad I finished it. And the stadium is really, really beautiful. I am happy to compete here. The atmosphere is great and the spectators shout your name and give you more energy to push and to finish.”
At the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Ikpefan became Nigeria’s first two-time Winter Olympian. Following a not-so memorable Beijing 2022, where he spent days in isolation due to COVID-19-related issues, Ikpefan returned as Nigeria’s only representative and served as the country’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony.
In the men’s sprint classic, he finished 65th in the qualification round and again did not progress to the next stage. He also competed in the 10 km freestyle race, where he placed 94th overall. Ikpefan immersed himself in Olympic paradise in Italy, surrounded by family.
“I’m just happy to be here to compete a second time in the Olympic Winter Games. And I’m just proud to represent my country, my flag, my people in Nigeria, everywhere in the world, also my continent, Africa, at this huge event,” said Ikpefan, who had a major surgery on his meniscus and ACL in September 2025 and worked hard to be back on skis and on the starting line.
He is one of 14 athletes representing eight African nations at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Ikpefan’s father, mother and son were in the stands on Tuesday, February 10, when he finished 65th in the men’s sprint classic.
They, however, missed his race on Friday, February 13. “They left early this morning, because they live far from here, six hours by car,” Ikpefan said. “I was really happy to see them cheering me on in the stadium and it was a very special experience, especially for my son.”
Although Ikpefan’s son prefers alpine (also known as downhill) skiing to his father’s sport, watching his father compete at the Olympics would definitely count as one of his favourite and most inspiring sports moments.
It is such moments that spark the Olympic dream. He attends ski school in the winter and also loves football and swimming. And his father, who is also a ski instructor, has said he would let him choose his preferred path.
Homecoming Olympics in the French alps
When the Winter Games arrive in the French Alps in 2030, Ikpefan hopes to fly Nigeria’s flag once again, this time, in his birth country. Ikpefan was born in Annemasse, France, to a Nigerian father from Sabongida-Ora in Edo State, and a French mother. His parents live in Annemasse with his son, while he lives and trains in St Moritz in southeastern Switzerland near the Italian border.
“I was talking to myself before the start of this season, and I said, ‘you’re a little bit old, 34, but your body feels young’. I also have a son, a family, and my normal life. I work three jobs. So, to represent Nigeria a third time in the Olympic Winter Games, I need to find a good sponsor. That way I can reduce my work and train more to be stronger. I know my body, I know my feelings. So, if I have more training, I can compete in the World Cup and huge events. So, for the next three years I need to find a lot of sponsors.
“I was born in France. And the cross-country area is just 30 minutes from my village – it’s not far from my parents’ house. If I can continue until 2030 it will be something special,” said Ikpefan, who once represented France as a junior in the European Cup. As a junior he also won a French title in the sprint discipline.
Why Skiing
Speaking on why he chose skiing, he said: “I grew up in the Alps. We also have many sports, but maybe I love this feeling. Because when you ski like downhill, cross-country, you’re alone on the track and you fight yourself. You are competing against the other athletes, but first of all, you try to push yourself. And that’s why I love endurance sports, not only cross-country skiing.”
Ikpefan is done with his competitions at these Olympics, but the FIS Cross-country World Cup 2025-26 season is not over. The season resumes on the 28 February, and he is looking forward to concluding his season on a high note.
But working three jobs, which includes being a marketing manager for a company, and having less time to train, remains a huge challenge, in addition to limited financial resources.
“My first challenge is to have good training. Also, to have money for traveling and to compete in different races, international races, to get good points to be allowed to compete in the World Cup or World Championship.” On the road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, he relied partly on the Olympic Solidarity support to fund his training and qualification efforts.
Regarding the future of cross-country skiing in Nigeria, Ikpefan said: “I think it’s possible because in cross-country, we have two disciplines, summer and winter. In the summer, we use roller skis. It’s like ice skating, but with wheels on the road. And we can promote that in Nigeria, I think, because it’s a summer sport. And it’s good for training in the summer. It resembles cross-country skiing, but it’s not. But we use it for our training in the summer. And we can promote that in Nigeria because we have some beautiful roads where we can create something.”
Nigeria has now been represented at three consecutive Olympic Winter Games since the PyeongChang 2018 edition where the country fielded a women’s bobsleigh team (pilot Seun Adigun, and brakemen Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga) and a skeleton racer Simidele Adeagbo.
But growing and promoting winter sports in the predominantly tropical country, has been an uphill task. Ikpefan is hoping that he can be an inspiration for the country’s up-and-coming winter sports athletes aiming to reach the Olympics, and he is determined to contribute to the advancement of cross-country skiing in Nigeria.
Source: AIPS Media
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