First Saudi Winter Olympian and U alum Fayik Adbi returns to the games

By Hailey Edmonds

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The Winter Olympic Games commenced in 1924, and nearly a century later, Fayik Adbi BS’20 criminology made history in 2022 by becoming the first Saudi athlete to compete in the games. Once a Snowbird Ski Resort regular and now a two-time winter Olympian, Abdi returns to the Olympic stage as a 2026 competitor. 

In a country where ski slopes are scarce and the average temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit, Adbi found a way to learn and train despite this. When his mother taught him how to ski when he was just four years old in Lebanon it was all for the fun of it, until Adbi grew up and decided to seriously pursue the sport. He traveled to the Swiss Alps in search of snow and eventually traveled all the way to Utah to continue his studies and practice skiing.  

In 2020, the Saudi Winter Sports Federation was formed, a year later the federation announced a call for winter athletes to represent the kingdom. Seven athletes, including Adbi, were selected and quickly thrown into training, in preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The pressure was immense; the games were less than a year away, and Adbi had not trained for a major event like that before.  

Of those athletes, only three met the qualification points needed to go to Beijing. Since the country was late to the qualification process though, they were only given one spot, which was given to Adbi. Not only was this accomplishment history in the making, but it was also a huge responsibility for Adbi. By carrying his country’s flag in the Beijing opening ceremony in 2022, he represented his country and the future generations that would follow in his footsteps, “I hope that the winter sports will grow in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, [and we will] see more participants from my country in the next Winter Olympics,” he said.  

In the 2026 games, cross-country skier Rakan Alireza joins Adbi in representing their country, demonstrating the commitment of Saudi athletes to continue competing in the games. This go around feels a little different to Adbi, “I’m proud to be here again, but I’m also calm about it. It’s less about proving something, and more about trusting the work I've already done,” he said. The continued presence of Saudi athletes demonstrates a long-term commitment to compete at the global event. “Slow progress doesn’t mean no progress,” Adbi said. “Quitting would mean wasting all the work already done. Staying with the process is what matters most.”  

All Adbi’s training has led him to this moment, where he can stand as a symbol of continued dedication to his sport and his country.