Winter Olympics 2026 – Simidele Adeagbo sends message to African athletes: “It’s nothing like you’ve ever experienced in your life”

Simidele Adeagbo tells African athletes to revel in every moment

She highlighted the sense of community at the Athletes’ Village as one of the experiences she cherished most.

She said: “One of my best memories from my Olympics was just getting to be in the dining hall. This is a space where everyone is able to connect. I remember thinking, ‘I have three meals a day—who can I connect with this meal?’ Having lunch with Great Britain and dinner with another nation, I really used those opportunities to meet people and celebrate this global community of sport.”

Adeagbo also reminded athletes to be mindful of the history they create by representing their countries.

“You’re making history for your country. Savour all the memories and have lots of fun. The more you enjoy it, the better you’re going to do.”

Milano Cortina 2026 will see three nations compete at the Winter Games for the first time: Benin and Guinea-Bissau from Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Other African countries competing include Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Kenya, and Eritrea, across disciplines such as skeleton, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and freestyle skiing.