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Looking at the life story of Sabrina Simader, the first Kenyan Olympic skier
Lenah Ann
updated at February 4, 2024 at 1:47 PM
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Over the past years, European and North American athletes have dominated the alpine skiing world, leaving most African athletes out of the sport. When Sabrina Simader, a Kenyan athlete, joined the sport, she went down in history as the first and only Kenyan female athlete to represent her nation in the Olympics. Her involvement in the skiing community has contributed to the diversity and inclusiveness of individuals from all backgrounds.
Source: Getty Images
The renowned alpine ski racer has represented her nation in various international competitions and earned numerous career accolades. Aside from inspiring many young athletes passionate about the sport through her activism and passion, her influence on equality has extended to another level. Here is everything you need to know about Sabrina Simader.
Sabrina Simader's profile summary
Full name | Sabrina Wanjiku Simader |
Date of birth | 13 April 1998 |
Age | 25 (as of January 2024) |
Place of birth | Kakuma, Kenya |
Nationality | Kenyan |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Step-father | Josep |
Mother | Sarah |
Height | 5 feet 8 inches or 173 centimetres |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Dark brown |
Marital status | Unknown |
Famous as | Being the first Kenyan to participate in alpine skiing |
Occupation | Alpine skier |
Category | Downhill, giant slalom, super-G |
Years active | 2017 - present |
Medal record | Women's alpine skiing representing Kenya |
Social media |
Sabrina Simader's brief bio
The Kenyan skier Sabrina Simader (age 25 as of January 2024) was born on 13 April 1998 in Kakuma, Kenya, to her mother, Sarah and father. She moved to Austria when she was 3 years old with her mother and stepdad, Josep, who introduced her to alpine skiing.
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Sabrina Simader's career journey
Sabrina's skiing journey started when she was three years old after being introduced to the sport by her stepdad. With her stepdad's help, she developed a passion for the sport and thus advanced her skills towards becoming a professional.
In various interviews, she admitted that her career path was difficult as she was the only black participant in the sport. She felt lonely on the ice and was doubted by many people who did not trust her abilities.
She made her youth international debut in 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway, during the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics, and her World Cup debut came on 7 January 2017 when she was 18. She participated in the alpine skiing competitions for Kenya at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
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The Super G star's recent tournament was held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, at the 2021 World Ski Championships. She took part in three categories at the event: downhill, combined and super G.
Sabrina Simader's achievements
As the only alpine skier from Kenya, Sabrina Simader has achieved milestones in the winter sport. She was awarded the African European Sports Woman of the Year trophy for her outstanding performance in 2017 and 2019.
During the 2016 and 2018 Winter Olympics, the renowned skier represented Kenya in several international tournaments and was featured in the African Forbes 30 under 30.
Source: Getty Images
Sabrina Simader's role in activism
Due to her incredible performance during the 2018 Olympics competitions, the United Nations appointed the renowned giant slalom athlete as the first Mountain Hero. In one of her activism speeches, she discussed the threat posed by retreating glaciers to animals like snow leopards.
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She was charged with creating awareness of new environmental problems, such as biodiversity loss and climate change, particularly in mountainous areas. As an environmental advocate, she has promoted environmental reforms to lessen the effects of climate change.
How much is Sabrina Simader worth?
According to Celebs Age Wiki, the renowned Kenyan skier has an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $5 million as of January 2024. Like most athletes, she made most of her fortune through her skiing career alongside various sponsorship deals.
Frequently asked questions
Despite facing challenges in her career, the Kenyan-Austrian skier has been determined to break barriers so that other competitors of colour can participate in the sport's highest level of the Olympics. Here are the frequently asked questions about her.
What is Sabrina Simader's nationality and ethnicity?
The winter sports legend is a Kenyan-Austrian national of mixed ethnic background.
Who introduced Sabrina Simader to skiing?
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The Super G legend was introduced to alpine skiing by her parents. She developed a passion for the sport and had her first race when she was four.
Source: Getty Images
When did Sabrina Simader move to Austria?
The renowned skier moved to Austria in 2001 when she was 3 after leaving Kenya with her mother and stepdad.
How tall is Sabrina Simader?
Sabrina Simader's height is 5 feet 8 inches or 173 centimetres and has black hair and dark brown eyes.
Who introduced Sabrina Simader to skiing?
The Super G legend was introduced to alpine skiing by her parents. She developed a passion for the sport and had her first race when she was four.
When did Sabrina Simader move to Austria?
The renowned skier moved to Austria in 2001 when she was 3 after leaving Kenya with her mother and stepdad.
Is Sabrina Simader on Instagram?
The famous skier is an active social media personality, and due to her achievements on the world stage, she has garnered quite a following. As of January 2024, she has over 37.6k followers on Instagram, 478 on X(Twitter) and over 9.5k on Facebook.
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Final word
Skier Sabrina Simader has contributed to the promotion of skiing in Africa and given African athletes more chances to compete in international competitions. She achieved the milestone by collaborating with groups like the International Olympic Committee and the African Ski Federation.
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