Malaysia doesn’t have four seasons and is far removed from icy slopes, but that didn’t stop the tropical country from taking part in the Winter Olympics. Alpine ski racer Aruwin Salehhuddin, who created history by becoming the first Malaysian woman to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, will once again make her second appearance at the 2026 edition in Milano Cortina, Italy.
The 21-year-old, who will be turning a year older on 14th February – just a day before her first competition at this year’s Olympics, was drawn to the cold, the winter sports world, ever since she was a child. Although she represents Malaysia, Aruwin grew up in Bellingham, Washington, where she was introduced to alpine skiing from a young age.
Following in the footsteps of her Olympian father Salehhuddin Ayob, who competed for Malaysia in slalom kayaking at the Atlanta 1996 Games, her success didn’t come overnight. From taking part in swimming and surfing to dancing and figure skating, and of course, skiing, she was raised in a family that loved sports and activities.
After years of training, racing, and perseverance, at just 17, she became the youngest Malaysian and the first female Malaysian Alpine skier to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics. During her Olympic debut, she competed in the women’s slalom course and finished 38th, which is an achievement to be proud of, considering that winter sports are a rare sight for Malaysians.
Beyond her Olympic achievements, she also excelled at the Asian Winter Games, having finished fourth in the women’s slalom at the ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China in 2025.
While she acknowledges the challenges of limited facilities, high costs and low visibility for winter sports in Malaysia, she remains hopeful that greater support and awareness will help the sport grow. With guidance from her father and personal coach Kai Alaerts, and the support of her mother Siti Alphiah Tunggal as team manager, Aruwin is working towards becoming the first Malaysian to qualify for the FIS World Cup.
As Malaysia’s sole athlete at these Games, her competitions are scheduled on 15th and 18th February. Watch her live here.
