Published on 19.01.2024
16-year-old Ashley Ongong’a, the first female cross-country skier from Kenya to qualify for the Winter Youth Olympic Games is gearing up for a tough challenge as she faces off tough competition at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre on January 29th.
The youngster is just days away from realising her childhood ambition and making history as the first Kenyan, or rather the first African to compete in cross-country skiing at a Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Ongong’a has been skiing since she was a young child and she is keen to make a mark on the global scene as she makes her debut. She recalled her first gliding experience was on roller skis and later transferred her stamina and strength onto the snow and ice.
“I was like three or four when I started to roller ski. My first coach asked my parents if I could ski, and when I tried it, it became my first love.
“I did many other sports too, like dancing, but when I had to choose, I chose cross-country skiing,” she added.
Embracing the skis and having the opportunity to do it at an early age helped her develop and master the technique. She began competing at regional and national events as a child, and by the time she was 10, she was already topping Italian age group competitions, charting a path towards her dream.
Ongong’a hopes marking this milestone comes as a strong motivation to youngsters who have big dreams like her.
