A dozen U.S. figure skaters marched in the ceremony, some fresh off competing.

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Juliet MacurFebruary 6, 2026 at 10:13 PM

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Aruwin Salehhuddin, a 21-year-old Alpine skier from Malaysia, is the country's sole representative at the Winter Olympics. This is not an isolated case, as 15 nations have sent only one athlete to the games. The Olympic charter does not require athletes to be born in their represented country, but rather to be nationals. Salehhuddin was inspired by her father, a former Malaysian canoeing competitor, and has been training since childhood. She now competes while living in Colorado Springs, traveling frequently for events. Despite the lack of financial support from corporate sponsors, she is largely funded by her parents, who immigrated to the US from Malaysia. Salehhuddin hopes to raise the flag high and proud during the opening ceremony, a moment she has been preparing for since becoming the first female Malaysian Olympic athlete four years ago.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Malta 30% Nigeria 30% Atlanta Games 40% Eritrea 40% Pakistan 40% Puerto Rico 40% Kent State University 40% Italy 50% Canada 60% United States ×270% Malaysia ×790% Aruwin Salehhuddin ×690%

Keywords

aruwin salehhuddin 90% winter olympics 90% olympic athletes 80% malaysia 80% alpine skier 70% flag bearer 60% financial support 60% corporate sponsorships 50% national olympic committee 50%