Saudi Alpine skier Fayik Abdi completes preparations for Beijing Winter Olympics

RIYADH: Fayik Abdi, who is representing Saudi Arabia in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, has completed his training in preparation for his historic participation in the Alpine Skiing competition on Sunday. Abdi will compete in the Giant Slalom ski competition, which kicks off at 5 a.m. local time, and is the first Saudi and Gulf athlete to participate in the Winter Olympics since its inception in 1924. He qualified for the Olympics in December, after achieving an average of 131.03 points over five of his best-scored races, a record time. Since his arrival in Beijing on Feb. 3, the Saudi skier has continued his training regularly, led by his coaches Patrice Lucas and Daniel Sanz, in preparation for the competition, a statement on Saudi Press Agency said on Friday.

A landmark moment for the GCC countries in general and #KSA in particular with the monumental participation of the Alpine Skier @fasksa8 as the first Saudi athlete ever to compete at the Winter Olympics that is currently being held in Beijing, #China. #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/sAZxYu4TPC

— CIC Saudi Arabia (@CICSaudi) February 9, 2022

Abdi is expected to gain new Olympic experience that will contribute to building a different future for winter sports in the Kingdom, the statement added. Only five Arab Olympic committees have qualified for the Winter Olympics since it began nearly a hundred years ago in 1924 in Chamonix in the French Alps, and they include Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.