Team SA all set to go at Winter Olympics

Cape Town - The Winter Olympics swing into action in PyeongChang, South Korea with Friday's opening ceremony.

Team South Africa has just one competitor namely Alpine ski racer, Connor Wilson.

Wilson will compete in the giant slalom (February 18) and slalom (February 22).

He is accompanied by Chef de Mission Peter Pilz (president of Snow Sports SA) and fellow skier Sive Speelman, who fills the role of technical official at these Games.

According to Team SA's website, South Africa is intrinsically linked with these Winter Games as it was at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban seven years ago where the Games were awarded to PyeongChang.

The South Korean city beat rival bids from Munich (Germany) and Annecy (France).

The 2018 Winter Olympics continues from February 25 and features 102 events spread over 15 different disciplines.

Close to 3000 competitors from 92 National Olympic Committee will be participating.

Here's a factfile on Connor Wilson (via Team SA):

-Born in 1996 and hails from Johannesburg

-He first skied at the age of five

-Entered his first official FIS (International Ski Federation) race in 2013

-Was a national junior champion in 2014 and national men's champion in 2016 and 2017

-The highlight of his career till now was representing SA at the World Ski Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland a year ago

-At high school he received provincial colours for equestrian sport and represented SA at the All Africa Mauritian Friendship cup in 2015

-Also at high school he captained the first hockey team at St John's College in Johannesburg

-He's also a certified scuba rescue diver and helicopter pilot

-He's currently studying for a veterinary science degree at the University of Vermont in the United States

Welcome to the Winter @Olympics, South Africa! ????
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See more on @pyeongchang2018 here: https://t.co/dtp9Xmqsge pic.twitter.com/Ub1y3mlCY8

— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) February 9, 2018