Rabat—Morocco will once again be represented at the Winter Olympic Games, and this time with a historic first. At Milano-Cortina 2026, which begins today, Pietro Tranchina will compete in alpine skiing under the Moroccan flag, becoming the first Moroccan athlete to race regularly at the World Cup level in the discipline.
Born on March 5, 2003, in Susa near Turin, and raised in Italy, Tranchina chose to represent Morocco, a decision shaped by both sporting opportunity and personal identity.
“I’ve always lived in Italy,” he told Adnkronos.com, “but Morocco gave me the opportunity to compete against the best, to grow and gain important experience at a sporting level.”
While Italy played a decisive role in his development, Pietro Tranchina explains that Morocco offered him a clearer pathway to elite competition.
“The World Cup opportunity is an incredible experience,” he said. “Competing every day with the strongest skiers in the world is not something you can take for granted at my age. For now, it has helped me grow.”
His choice was also deeply personal. His close relationship with his mother, Sadia, was a key factor. “My relationship with my mother mattered a lot in this choice,” Tranchina explained. “We are very close, and in her country I feel comfortable.”
Morocco at the Winter Olympics
Morocco will take part in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6–22) with a small but symbolic delegation. Tranchina will compete in alpine skiing, while fellow athlete Abderrahim Kemmissa will represent Morocco in cross-country skiing.
With the Games approaching, Tranchina remains focused on performance rather than pressure.
“It’s the main objective of the season,” he said. “If we can also lower my bib number in the World Cup and break into the top 30, that would be fantastic. For now, I want to enjoy myself and do well in Bormio.”
When asked what would make him satisfied at the end of the Olympics, his answer reflects maturity beyond his years.
“I want to offer the best version of myself. I’m not thinking about results,” he said. “The goal is a top-30 finish. If that happens, I already have a bet with my staff, I’ll dye my hair with Morocco’s star.”
Competing at the Olympics on Italian snow adds a special dimension to his journey.
“It will be beautiful to race at Milano-Cortina,” Tranchina said. “I’ll also feel like I’m competing at home, and that could give me an extra boost.”
Tranchina’s Olympic run is a huge statement for Morocco. It’s proof that the country is moving beyond its traditional comfort zones in terms of sports and breaking into entirely new territory. Having a Moroccan flag flying on the slopes shows exactly how the nation’s sporting ambitions are expanding and evolving.