National Olympic Committee of Kenya President Paul Tergat with Sabrina Wanjiku Simader at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo ©NOCK

Paul Tergat, President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), has praised the nation's only athlete at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine World Ski Championships in in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Sabrina Wanjiku Simader.

The Kenyan-born 22-year-old has lived in Austria since she was three and Tergat has called her a great sports ambassador for Kenya.

"The kind of media interest and following she has drawn in this event can only be matched by the same following she got when she competed in the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018," International Olympic Committee Tergat told Kenyan newspaper Standard Media.

"She is certainly someone who is making our country be known to the world. 

"Having been recognised and appointed in 2018 as a United Nations environment ambassador as well, it greatly underscores the often-stated fact that Kenya's sportspeople are the biggest assets of promoting the country.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic having hit the country in terms of tourists, it is gratifying to note that one Kenyan is causing a lot of excitement in this part of the world."

Sabrina Wanjiku Samider finished 38th at the Winter Olympics and starts 38th on the start list at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships ©NOCK
Sabrina Wanjiku Samider finished 38th at the Winter Olympics and starts 38th on the start list at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships ©NOCK

Tergat, a double Olympic silver medallist in the 10,000 metres, added: "We all know that Kenya hosts very many Italians and Sabrina's participation in this Championship has strongly reinforced that awareness.

"At only 22 years old, she has competed in numerous events and excelled.

"She was the sole flagbearer at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018 and before that the Youth Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 2016 where she finished in the top 25 in all her events."

At Pyeongchang 2018, Simader finished 38th in the super-G.

Tergat also mentioned Dennis Ondiba, a Kenyan cross-country skier based in the Czech Republic, who looks to make the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships this season too.

Previous to Simader's appearance at the Olympics, the country's only other Winter Olympian was Philip Boit, who competed in cross-country skiing at Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2022 and Turin 2006.