Teen snow star Thomas Weir hits the big runs for South Africa at the Winter Olympics

Seventeen‑year‑old Thomas Weir, born in Switzerland to a South African dad, is part of the country’s largest‑ever Winter Olympics team at Milano Cortina 2026. One of just five athletes and one of two teens, he’s racing in slalom and giant slalom, proudly putting South Africa on the winter map. Raised in Swizerland, he turned weekend fun into serious racing and chose to represent his father’s homeland to help grow winter‑sports representation. Balancing school with year‑round training, glacier sessions in summer, non‑stop snow in winter, he says carrying the SA flag at the opening ceremony was his biggest moment yet. He keeps his energy up with biltong and keeps the braai spirit alive - even in the snow. His advice to any youngsters nervous about trying something new: just go for it; you never know what passion might kick in.