Fayik Abdi
Fayik Rifat Abdi | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 8, 1997 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Alpine ski racer |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Known for | First Saudi Arabian and Gulf region athlete at Winter Olympics |
Fayik Rifat Abdi (; born October 8, 1997) is an alpine ski racer representing Saudi Arabia at the Olympic level. He holds the distinction of being the inaugural athlete from both Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. Following his graduation from the University of Utah, Abdi returned to Saudi Arabia to advance his career in professional skiing.
Early life and education
Born on October 8, 1997, in San Diego, California, Abdi completed his high school education at IMG Academy and earned his degree from the University of Utah in 2020. His introduction to skiing began on Lebanese mountains alongside his mother, which was later supplemented by training sessions at a winter camp located in Switzerland.
Career
Abdi's professional experience includes roles as a Ski Technician at Snowbird in 2017, followed by a position at Alta Ski Area starting November 2019. He achieved a historic milestone in 2022 by competing in the giant slalom event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he placed 44th out of 91 participants.
By 2022, Abdi was officially affiliated with the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee and conducted his training at the Saudi Olympic Training Center.