KUCHING: Alpine ski racer, Aruwin Idami Salehhuddin, flies the Jalur Gemilang at the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 in Italy from Feb 6 to 22.
The 21-year-old will be Malaysia’s sole athlete at the Games, continuing her journey on the world stage after the nation’s previous appearances at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
Her selection marks another milestone for Malaysian winter sports as the country makes its third consecutive appearance at the Olympic Winter Games.
This also marks Aruwin’s second appearance in the multi-sporting event, becoming the first female Malaysian to ever accomplish such feat.
She will be competing in the Alpine Skiing Women’s Slalom and Giant slalom events, scheduled on Feb 15 and 18.
The national athlete had previously played the role of flagbearer for the national contingent during the opening ceremony on Feb 6.
Accompanying her at the Games are chef de mission Salehhuddin Ayob, team manager Siti Alphiah Tunggal and coach Kai Alaerts.
OCM chief executive officer Wan Hor Fong is also part of the delegation.
In conjunction with the historic outing, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), in collaboration with Universal Traveller Malaysia, has previously unveiled the official opening ceremony attire for the contingent.
The outfit features an all-white winter jacket and pants with the word “Malaysia” positioned over the heart, complemented by a custom-designed beanie bearing a stylised “M”, along with black-and-white gloves and brown winter boots.
OCM president, Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, said the milestone reflects the country’s steady progress in winter sports and serves as inspiration for future generations.
“This achievement not only marks Malaysia’s third consecutive appearance at the Olympic Winter Games but also inspires young athletes to dream bigger and aim higher on the global winter sports stage,” he said.
