South Africa competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from 6 to 22 February 2026. The 2026 games were its first participation in the Winter Olympics since 2018 after missing the 2022 games.
Cross-country skier Matthew Smith and skeleton athlete Nicole Burger were the country's flagbearer during the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, Thomas Weir was the country's flagbearer during the closing ceremony.
Competitors The following is the list of number of competitors participating at the Games per sport/discipline.
SportMenWomenTotalAlpine skiing112Cross-country skiing101Freestyle skiing011Skeleton011 Total235
Alpine skiing
South Africa qualified one female and one male alpine skier through the basic quota.
AthleteEventRun 1Run 2TotalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankThomas WeirMen's giant slalom1:29.55681:22.48622:52.0363Men's slalomLara MarkthalerWomen's giant slalom1:12.17511:19.29482:31.4647Women's slalom52.724656.95401:49.6739
Cross-country skiing
South Africa qualified one male cross-country skier through the basic quota. 34-year-old Matt Smith qualified to represent the country in the sport. Smith had only taken up the sport two years ago after moving from South Africa to Norway. This will mark the country's first participation in the sport in 16 years, after last competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
AthleteEventFinalTimeDeficitRankMatthew SmithMen's 10 km freestyle30:04.4 +9:28.2108
Freestyle skiing
South Africa qualified a female athlete in moguls and dual moguls through the World Cup and 2025 World Championship event.
Moguls AthleteEventQualificationFinalRun 1Run 2Run 1Run 2RankTimePointsTotalRankTimePointsTotalRankTimePointsTotalRankTimePointsTotalMalica MalherbeWomen's moguls30.3943.5855.852530.0546.1958.8617Did not advance
Dual moguls AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankMalica MalherbeWomen's dual mogulsL -35Did not advance
Skeleton
South Africa qualified a single female skeleton racer, securing one quota spot based on the IBSF Ranking List for the 2025–26 season.
AthleteEventRun 1Run 2Run 3Run 4TotalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankNicole BurgerWomen's59.632559.43251:00.062558.98243:58.1025
References