Zimbabwe at the 2014 Winter Olympics

Zimbabwe at the 2014 Winter Olympics
IOC code	ZIM
NOC	Zimbabwe Olympic Committee
in Sochi, Russia 7–23 February 2014
Competitors	1 in 1 sport
Flag bearer (opening)	Luke Steyn
Flag bearer (closing)	Luke Steyn
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Winter Olympics appearances (overview)
2014 2018–2022 2026

The Southeast African country of Zimbabwe competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia, from 7 to 23 February 2014. It was the nation's first appearance at the Winter Olympics. The Zimbabwean delegation consisted of one athlete competing in alpine skiing, Luke Steyn. Steyn was the flagbearer for both the opening and closing ceremonies. He was unsuccessful in securing a medal in his Olympic debut.

Background

Zimbabwe made its Summer Olympic debut at the 1980 Games in Moscow, Soviet Union, after gaining independence earlier that year. ^[1] Its colonial predecessor Southern Rhodesia (competing as Rhodesia) had previously debuted at the Games in 1928. ^{[2] [3]}

Zimbabwe had never sent a delegation to the Winter Olympics prior to 2014. ^{[4] [5] [6]} It does not snow in Zimbabwe, a subtropical country where winter temperatures reach up to 21 °C (70 °F). ^[4] Accordingly, while Luke Steyn was born in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, he moved to Switzerland when he was two years old and was raised in Europe. ^{[4] [7]} Commenting on his heritage, Steyn said in an interview before the Games:

Once it is in your blood, it is in your blood. I feel still very connected to Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole. I spend as many holidays as I can there. When I am not training or in university, I am in Zimbabwe or in other parts of Africa. The beauty of Africa always makes you want to go back there. ^[4]

Steyn qualified for the Games through the Olympic quota allocation system. ^[8] He was Zimbabwe's flag bearer during the opening and closing ceremonies. ^{[9] [10]}

Alpine skiing

Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2014 Winter Olympics

Steyn was 20 years old at the time of his Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia. ^{[4] [11] [12]} He trained in Colorado, United States, where he was attending university. ^[13] He competed in the men's giant slalom race held on 19 February. In the first run, he placed 61st with a time of 1 minute and 32.2 seconds. In his second, he placed 59th with a time of 1 minute and 34.35 seconds. He ultimately finished 57th out of 72 athletes who completed the event, with a total time of 3 minutes and 6.55 seconds. ^{[14] [15]} He did not finish the first run of the men's slalom race, held on 22 February. ^[16]

Athlete	Event	Run 1		Run 2		Total
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Luke Steyn	Men's giant slalom	1:32.20	61	1:34.35	59	3:06.55	57
	Men's slalom	DNF

See also

• Tropical nations at the Winter Olympics

References

1. "About Us". Zimbabwe Olympic Committee . Retrieved 5 February 2025.
2. Grasso, John; Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (2015). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement (5th ed.). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 654. ISBN   978-1-4422-4859-5.
3. Little, Charles (2005). "Preventing 'A Wonderful BreakThrough for Rhodesia'" (PDF). Olympika: The International Journal of Olympic Studies. XVI: 53. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
4. Tetrault-Farber, Gabrielle (27 January 2014). "From U.S. University Student to Zimbabwe's First Winter Olympian". The Moscow Times . Retrieved 5 February 2025.
5. "Luke Steyn qualifies for Winter Olympics". Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation . 9 January 2014. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
6. "Alpine skier Luke Steyn will be Zimbabwe's first Winter Olympic athlete in Sochi". NBC News . Harare, Zimbabwe. Associated Press. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
7. MacKenzie, Eric (16 January 2014). "Sochi Spotlight: Zimbabwe's first Winter Olympian". Pique Newsmagazine . Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
8. "Summary of Quota allocation as per 20.1.2014" (PDF). International Ski Federation. 20 January 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
9. "Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony – Flagbearers" (PDF). Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
10. "Sochi 2014 Closing Ceremony – Flagbearers" (PDF). Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee. 23 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
11. "Meet Zimbabwe's first Winter Olympian". Fox Sports . 30 January 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
12. "Luke Steyn – Athlete Biography". International Ski and Snowboard Federation . Retrieved 5 February 2025.
13. "Steyn ready for Winter Olympic Games". The Herald . 28 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
14. "Men's Giant Slalom – Official Results" (PDF). Sochi, Russia: International Ski Federation. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
15. Hwata, Augustine (20 February 2014). "Luke Steyn makes history". The Herald . Retrieved 5 February 2025.
16. "Men's Slalom Run 1 – Official Results" (PDF). Sochi, Russia: International Ski Federation. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2025.

External links

• Zimbabwe at the 2014 Winter Olympics (Archived 8 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine )