LONDON: It was three years ago that Fayik Abdi’s life changed forever. At the age of 24, Abdi became the first ever athlete from Saudi Arabia to compete in the Winter Olympics, taking part in the men’s giant slalom event at the Beijing 2022 Games. Just a couple of years earlier, he had been working as a ski technician in the resorts of Utah.

Abdi finished in 44th place out of 46 in China — a huge achievement given that a further 43 athletes, almost half of the entire giant slalom field, did not complete the race. Unsurprisingly, it is a memory that still feels fresh in the mind of the Saudi skier.

“It was surreal,” Abdi told Arab News. “Walking into the Olympic Village, wearing the Saudi flag and knowing I was making history was overwhelming.

“Being the first Saudi athlete to compete in the Winter Olympics was an incredible honor, and it’s something I will always be proud of. There was a lot of pressure, but at the same time, I felt a deep sense of pride and responsibility.

“It wasn’t about me — it was about inspiring others in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world to dream big and believe that anything is possible.”

The impact of Abdi competing was almost immediate. The Saudi Snow Sports Federation was established as an independent entity in 2022 and athletes interested in representing the Kingdom internationally began to approach the organization.

Fast-forward three years and Abdi is now leading the first ever Saudi delegation at the Asian Winter Olympics, which launched with its opening ceremony on Friday.

Returning to China, this time to the resort of Harbin, the 27-year-old is no longer alone. Alongside Abdi are two female skiers — Joud Farhoud and Sharifa Al-Sudairi — and a male curling team.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” Abdi said from the athletes’ village in Harbin. “Just a few years ago, we had very little representation in winter sports, and now we have a growing delegation. It’s a testament to how much the sport is developing in Saudi Arabia.

“I’m honored to be part of this journey and to help pave the way for future generations of Saudi winter athletes.”

What began with a few ski lessons on family holidays as a child has morphed into a sporting opportunity that few in the world are able to experience.

“The more I skied, the more I wanted to push myself and improve,” he recalled. “Over time, I fell in love with the feeling of speed, the precision of carving turns and the challenge of racing against the clock.”

Abdi’s Winter Olympics debut attracted global headlines; understandably, people did not expect an elite skier to emerge from a nation that is better known for its vast desert.

It captured people’s attention in a similar fashion to the story of the Jamaican bobsleigh team’s participation at the 1988 Games, which was later immortalized in the film “Cool Runnings.”

Abdi said: “Most people are surprised at first as they don’t expect a skier to come from Saudi Arabia, given our climate. But once they learn more, they realize how dedicated I am to the sport and how much winter sports are growing in the region.

“The reactions have gone from surprise to excitement, especially now that more Saudi athletes are taking part in winter sports.”

While sending an inaugural delegation to this month’s Asian Winter Games is a big step for Saudi Arabia, there is a giant leap to come in four years’ time.

The Kingdom has never shied away from hosting major sporting events and in 2029, the Asian Winter Games is coming to Trojena — NEOM’s mountain tourism destination.

“It’s a huge milestone for winter sports in Saudi Arabia,” Abdi said. “Hosting the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Trojena shows the commitment to developing winter sports infrastructure in the region.

“It will introduce more people to the sport and create opportunities for young athletes. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together and hopefully competing there as well.”

Abdi has skied all over the world — picking out Snowbird, Utah as his most “unforgettable” experience — and believes that the SSSF and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee will do everything possible to ensure Trojena 2029 is a memorable event for athletes and fans.

On a personal level, Abdi is striving to improve and become more competitive. The Saudi skier says he finds inspiration from international athletes and those closer to home, too.

“I have a lot of respect for Wayne Rooney, Rafael Nadal and Max Verstappen because of their hard work, dominance and consistency in their sports,” Abdi said.

“From Saudi Arabia, I admire my brother Faris Abdi and Tarek Hamdi (2020 Olympic karate silver medalist) for their work ethic, grit and winning mentality.”

Hamdi in particular offers a blueprint for sporting success on the biggest stage of all. And before Trojena 2029, Abdi has his sights firmly set on making it to a second successive Winter Olympics when the quadrennial event takes place in Milan-Cortina next year.

“My goal is absolutely to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics and I’m training hard to make that happen,” Abdi said. “I want to continue pushing myself, improving my performance and representing Saudi Arabia on the world stage.”