‘A lot more fire in me’: Singapore alpine skier Faiz Basha targets future Winter Olympics

SINGAPORE: With his debut Winter Olympics behind him, Singapore alpine skier Faiz Basha is setting his sights on bigger goals.

Speaking on the sidelines of a film screening that showcased his sporting journey, Faiz said he hopes to compete in the next two editions of the Olympics in 2030 and 2034.

“I intend to keep skiing for a long time. I hope to get three Olympic cycles out of me," he told reporters.

Titled “Ski Dreams”, the documentary is produced by Beach House Pictures and is scheduled for release on Mediacorp platforms from April.

Faiz recorded a 35th-place finish in the men’s slalom at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics last month. More than half of the 96 competitors recorded a DNF (did not finish) amid tricky conditions.

The 24-year-old also competed in the men’s giant slalom, but registered a DNF.

"This Olympics was just two races and it was a whole lifetime of training to get to this point. So I do have a bit of a post-Olympics depression. It's like: 'Man, what do I do now?' I wish I was still in the journey," he said.

“But, it's a good time to reflect a bit, reset my goals; and I have a lot more fire in me. I'm still intending to do more."

Faiz is the first Singaporean skier to compete in the Olympics. He is Singapore’s second athlete to participate in the Games, after short track speed skater Cheyenne Goh, who competed in the 2018 edition.

"I have a very good foundation ...and I've trained a lot, and the feeling that I have is if I didn't take it further, it would be an incredible waste," he said.

For now, the University of Strathclyde mechanical engineering undergraduate plans to hit the books before making a charge for the slopes at next year's World University Games, which will be his last. 

Looking ahead, his