Most cross-country skiers who have Olympic ambitions, spend a lifetime on snow, but Matt Smith took a different route. Born in South Africa, Matt had never skied cross-country before 2022. Now, he’s set on qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Growing up in Johannesburg, skiing wasn’t on Smith’s radar, let alone a Winter Olympic dream.

“I lived there until I was eight, then moved to the UK. I tried downhill skiing on school trips but never cross-country.”

After moving to Norway in 2017, winter sports still didn’t appeal.

“Between 2017 and 2020, I built a media startup, but I hibernated during winter. After selling the company, I trained for triathlons in Barcelona, Lisbon, and Cape Town—places where it never got below 20 degrees.”

Returning to Norway in 2022, he had a choice: endure winter or embrace it.

“The Norwegians say, ‘There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.’ I’d say there’s no bad winter—just a lack of skiing.”

A Wild Idea Takes Shape

The turning point came after his 32nd birthday when he met Alan Daniel Corona, a Mexican cross-country skier in Norway.

“He wasn’t Norwegian or Nordic—he started skiing in 2020. Seeing his progress made me think: Could I do this for South Africa? The next Olympics was three years away, and I had never skied more than a kilometer without falling.”

Smith came up with a two-year plan. Coaches told him qualifying was a long shot—but possible.

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

Racing at the World Championships

Smith recently competed in the FIS World Championships in Trondheim, his shot at qualifying South Africa for the Olympics.

“My experience at Worlds was amazing. It was the culmination of two years of work and my only Olympic qualifier. I arrived early and had trained on the course in terrible conditions—seven degrees and slushy. People told me not to, but come race day, conditions were exactly the same. That prep was key.”

Despite falling early and breaking a ski pole—a major setback in a time trial—he fought to the finish.

“I lost about a minute, but I still got the result I needed. I secured South Africa’s quota spot with 268 FIS points—well below the 300 needed.”

Fast-Tracking to Olympic Level

Smith’s rapid improvement is impressive. His approach? Training smart and competing early.

“I trained with people just ahead of me, not way ahead. Alan was 18 months ahead, so he could translate what I needed to learn. If I had started with Norwegian pros, I wouldn’t have kept up.

I also raced straight away. I didn’t wait to be ‘ready’—I just went for it.”

After a year, he teamed up with Norwegian coach Ole to fine-tune his technique, focusing on cornering and downhill speed.

“These details make or break a race. If you’re confident, you get free speed; if you brake too much, you lose time.”

The Mental Game

Six months before Worlds, Smith started working with a sports psychologist.

“We train our bodies relentlessly but ignore the mind. If sport is ‘mind over matter,’ why don’t we train our minds the same way?”

He credits mental training for his quick recovery from his race-day fall.

“I didn’t stress. I got up, solved the problem, and carried on. That mindset made the difference.”

More Than an Athlete: The “Ski-Fluencer”

Beyond his Olympic dream, Smith wants to grow the sport’s reach.

“I’ve fallen in love with cross-country skiing, but participation is dropping. With my media background, I saw a way to make it more accessible.”

His social media exploded during his 100-day countdown to Worlds, gaining over 10,000 followers and millions of views.

“The press called me a ‘ski-fluencer.’ If it helps promote the sport, I’ll take it.”

Read More: Project 509: “The mission is simple”

Eyes on Milan-Cortina 2026

With South Africa’s Olympic spot secured, Smith is focused on the next 10 months.

“I’m refining my technique and fitness to peak for February 2026.”

What started as a long shot is now reality. And true to form, Smith is bringing others along for the ride.

Follow Matt Smith’s journey on Instagram: @mattcsmith_ and stay tuned for his upcoming YouTube series.