Sabrina Wanjiku Simader, an 18-year-old Kenyan skier, has been making waves in international skiing competitions despite lacking support from her home country.
Simader started skiing at the age of three and has been representing Kenya in various skiing events. She recently gained attention for being the only African starter in the women's super-G race at the world ski championship, where she emerged second after Mikaela Shiffrin from the United States.
According to Simader, she began skiing at the age of three, thanks to her stepfather, Josef, who owns a ski lift in Hansberg. She attended a ski school in Schladming, where she honed her skills and won a local championship by the time she was 13.
"In the beginning, people could stop and stare at me. It was uncomfortable. Most of them did not know me and were skeptical of my capabilities, wondering if I was any good. I’m used to it now, and I prefer to shock them with my performance," says Simader.
Simader has participated in the downhill and slalom events at the third-tier International Ski Federation (ISF), scoring top 10 finishes. Her skills have earned her accolades, recognition, and sponsors, including broadcaster Sky and Planai ski resort in Austria, which cover her expenses.
Although Simader is eligible for funding from the Kenyan Olympic committee, she revealed in an interview with ABC News that she has not received any financial support from Kenya. Despite this, she remains determined to continue winning and has her sights set on upcoming competitions in Mauritz and the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.
The recovered account cited reporting by Tuko.
