Yanqing, China, February 13, 2022: It was a memorable day for Saudi Arabia – Asia’s newest National Olympic Committee in the Olympic Winter Games.
This was on a day when 43 skiers - many of them from winter sports powerhouses - failed to finish, either on the first run in the morning or the second run in the afternoon, which was delayed for one hour due to heavy snowfall.
There was an enthusiastic support team for Fayik, with the distinctive green and white flag of Saudi Arabia standing out in the colourful backdrop of national flags at the picturesque venue.
He clocked 1 minute, 21.44 seconds in his first run, putting him in 51st position, and 1:25.41 on his second run to end the competition in 44th place with a combined time of 2:46.85.
The Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, HRH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz, was leading the cheering.
“This is a great achievement,” said Prince Fahad, Chair of the OCA Education Committee.
“I am very, very proud that the Saudi flag is raising in the Winter Olympics and the very good participation of our hero athlete Fayik Abdi. He did both runs and he finished in the top 45 athletes in the world which is a big achievement for Saudi being the first time in the Olympics. We are very proud of him.”
When asked if there was a bright future for winter sports in Saudi Arabia, Prince Fahad replied: “100 per cent. This was the first test in winter sports and, Inshallah, we will do our best to be a much better delegation in the next Olympics.”
Prince Fahad said the participation of Fayik had already made a big impact back home. “Everyone is supporting Fayik and we are sure that we have a lot of influence that will be followed by everyone.”
After his impressive first run, Fayik said: “It was definitely challenging, very difficult - a lot more turning and hard-packed than we had expected – but I am glad we finished.
“I am really proud and happy to be representing Saudi and I am looking forward to the future of winter sports in Saudi Arabia.
“I would like to see more people take part in the sport. We have ski centres being built right now in Saudi so hopefully that will encourage people to get into winter sports and I think it will be a success, I hope.”
When asked how he felt to be Saudi Arabia’s alpine pioneer, he said: “It really means a lot. To be honest I have no words right now. I am still trying to process everything.”
Bassam Alshabhi, ski programme supervisor of the Saudi Winter Sports Federation, said Fayik’s performance was “phenomenal”.
The federation began their search for Saudi winter sports athletes through social media in March 2021 and identified six candidates: two in alpine skiing, two in snowboard and two in cross-country.
After competing in FIS competitions in Sweden, Montenegro, Italy and Lichtenstein, Fayik gained enough ranking points to qualify for Beijing 2022, with the FIS confirming his place on December 16.
Since then, he has been training on different slopes and snow conditions, and came here on February 2 to prepare on artificial snow for the first time– only for it to snow heavily on the morning of competition.
Fayik, 24, began skiing at four years old in Lebanon but became serious about the sport in Utah.
A few months ago, skiing was a hobby for Fayik Abdi – now he is an Olympian: Saudi Arabia’s first in winter sports.
Photos: OCA
