Faiz Basha set to become Singapore’s first snow-sport Olympian at Milano-Cortina 2026
Singapore alpine skier Faiz Basha will make his Olympic debut at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics after qualifying for the slalom and giant slalom events, becoming the country’s first competitor in a snow sport at the Winter Games.
Basha, 23, said the demands of elite sport have shaped his life around training and competition calendars. He added that skiing remains his focus because he enjoys the sense of control and the challenge of improving his craft.
Faiz Basha Olympics debut adds to Singapore’s Winter Games record
Basha is only the second Singaporean athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics. Singapore first appeared at the Winter Games in 2018, when short track speed skater Cheyenne Goh competed in Pyeongchang.
He will race in alpine skiing’s technical disciplines. Slalom and giant slalom require athletes to navigate gates at high speed, with winners decided by the fastest combined times across runs.
A Swiss upbringing helped him start skiing at age three
Basha was born in Singapore and moved to Switzerland as a child, where he first learnt to ski at age three, according to the International Olympic Committee’s Olympics.com profile on him.
Over time, he progressed from school-based skiing to international competition, while balancing studies and training commitments. Singapore’s National Olympic Council described him as the nation’s first alpine skier to qualify for the Winter Olympics, and said he will represent Team Singapore in Milano-Cortina.
Training far from snow tested his preparation
Basha has also spoken about training challenges linked to Singapore’s climate and limited winter-sports infrastructure, including using inline skates during periods away from snow. Reuters reported he adopted alternative training methods while completing mandatory service and during pandemic disruptions.
Basha has said he is approaching his first Olympics with humility and wants to use the experience to improve for future races
