Issa Laborde - The Kenyan skier aiming for the Winter Olympics after Gangwon 2024: "I hope that it’s the beginning of something"
Laborde has been representing Kenya since 2022 in Alpine skiing. He is dreaming of the Youth Olympic Games, but also to help Kenya and Africa to reach new heights in winter sport.
Alpine Skiing
When young athletes from all around the world gather for the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024, Kenya hope to be represented.
The Olympics is a goal for Issa Laborde.
Born in L’Alpe d’Huez, a famous French ski resort, he has spent most of his life with skis on his feet.
How could it have been different when growing in the French Alps with a ski patroller as a father?
The 16-year-old inherited his dad's passion, but decided to pursue it under the flag of his mother's country.
He's been representing Kenya since the last winter seasons, and participated at La Scara, a race in Val d'Isère sometimes considered as an unofficial FIS World Cup, in the U16 category.
“It was a beautiful experience, the performance wasn’t that good but I managed to express myself and to have good sensations. It was truly a good experience”, said Laborde to Olympics.com of his experience at the elite competition.
The pleasure was multiplied by the possibilty of representing Kenya at this level. A choice made a few years ago and warmly received by the family.
“It makes my mother happy, and me too”, says Laborde, who has visited Kenya a few times.
His mother left her country to study in France, but the rest of her family still live back in Kenya. And staying in contact with them certainly motivated his choice.
Issa Laborde wants to follow in the footsteps of the two Winter Olympians from Kenya
Deciding to represent Kenya on the international stage might have been the easiest step of this process.
Issa’s mother began reaching out to people back home to make it happen years back. It was a long chase.
In February 2023, there was a glimmer of hope thanks to the 2023 Alpine Skiing World Championships in Méribel-Courchevel, France.
Issa Laborde and his family had the opportunity to meet the Kenyan delegation who travelled to France with Sabrina Simader. The 25-year-old is the only Kenyan athlete to have competed at the Winter Youth Olympic Games previously.
Simader's YOG experience was at Lillehammer 2016 and she went on to compete in alpine disciplines at the Winter Olympics PyeongChang 2018. Before her, only cross-country skier Philip Boit had competed for Kenya at a Winter Olympic Games. They’re both an inspiration for Issa Laborde as he aspires for Olympic history.
“They’ve achieved great things. I would like to walk on their steps and to carry on their legacy so the story doesn’t stop. I would like to do it, and then others will do the same and Kenya can improve in winter sport,” says the teenager who constantly seeks Sabrina Simader for advise and tips on navigating the international stage.
Issa Laborde on his aims and Kenya's future in alpine skiing
Laborde is determined to scale great heights.
He is not attending full-time school and has a study timetable adapted to his high-level aspiration, which allows him to train more. From bike riding during summer to physical preparation at home, he's determined not to let anything stop his will to honor Kenya on the biggest stage.
Last year, he was part of a group of aspiring Olympians who attended a two-week summer camp in Korea Republic to prepare for the winter season. It was also his first major trip away from home without his parents.
“It will show Kenya that I have a true goal in this sport, that I’m serious.”
This camp gave him a taste of what the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 could be. For now, that is his short term goal, but his sights are set on somethng bigger
“Gangwon 2024 is my goal, I’m still young. I want first to test myself at a higher level and then we’ll see depending on my progression but I hope to go as high as possible”, says the Slalom and Giant Slalom specialist.
Issa Laborde hopes his qualification for Gangwon 2024 will inspire Kenyan youngsters.
Milano Cortina 2026 is already in a corner of his mind.
But he doesn't project into the future just for himself. Despite his young age, he is mature enough to understand that skiing for Kenya is a huge symbol. He can feel it and wants to inspire other youngsters to dream big and reach out for their goals.
“It’s rare, so it brings something special. It’s beautiful to bring Africa in a sport where Africa doesn't belong usually. I hope that it’s the beginning of something. Maybe one day Africa will be represented in the World Cup and manage to have successes.”