Lara Markthaler, Team SA’s only representative at the recent Youth Winter Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea, is already back in training and ready for the next challenge. The 16-year-old performed with credit at the Games, where she competed in four events, and heads off to Italy next week where she will be based.
And while she continues with her home schooling, there are other changes afoot. Big changes.
From March she will receive support, a professional structure that will allow her to grow as a skier and introduce here to a professional environment, while providing invaluable assistance to her parents, who have been her mentors, coach, dietician, teacher, social media creators and helpers all rolled into one.
As her father, coach and social media manager all rolled into one, says, “a teenager in 2024 isn’t the same as a teenager of a previous generation. Today’s teenagers are at a level 25-year-olds were and we have to accept that in order to compete and go forward as a professional, we need to be surrounded by a team of professionals.”
Markthaler’s experience in sharing the slops with so many other country’s at the Youth Winter Olympics echoes the fact that it was eye-opening.
“All the ‘bigger’ countries arrived in Gangwon with a support team that not only included their coach, but also technicians who help get the skis ready for competition and carry them up the slopes. My team, including myself, consisted of three, so seeing the way others are resourced was a big adjustment,” Markthaker said.
The Youth Winter Olympics are not just about what happens in competition. It’s a life experience and cultural education and this was not lost on the talented South African.
“The opening ceremony was simply amazing, a highlight. To walk around representing South Africa and knowing that I was carrying the hopes of a nation was special. I learned so much from these Games. One of the lessons is to not be intimidated by the competition. Another is to try to treat an event as big as the Games were as just anther race, to have the right mindset.
“I didn’t stay in the main athletes village, but still got to experience the whole Games atmosphere and interaction. It was great seeing so many different cultures, and how friendly and willing athletes and officials were to engage. The biggest problem I had in Gangwon wasn’t in terms of the competition … it was being unable to read any signs!”
She admits that the level of skiing she encountered was “eye-opening”. However, mention must be made of the fact that many of the top skiers in the world are young professionals. Which is why Markthaler is so looking forward to the changes – additions – to her team from March.
“I want to thank the president of SASCOC, Barry Hendricks, along with the CEO, Nozipho Jafta, as well as the chef de mission, Patience Shikwambana. All of them gave me so much support and confidence to believe that I belong at this top level of competition,” Markthaler said.
Things have already changed for the 16-year-old. “I have had a lot of media interviews, TV requests and as my career progresses that is sure to only get bigger. With that in mind I want to reach out to anyone in South Africa who has dreams of being an Olympic skier. My message to you is ‘go and try it (skiing) one. You will be hooked. It is a very different sport, but don’t give up. Don’t be intimidated. Go chase your dream.”
And once you start dreaming, there no limit. Markthaler herself is aiming higher. “I want to represent South Africa at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina (Italy). That’s a big ambition of mind and with the support of a team around me I am going to give it my all to make it a reality.”
By Gary Lemke