by sportswriters Yang Boyi and Yao Youming

HARBIN, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two days ago, alpine skier Sharif Zawaideh celebrated his 45th birthday in the athlete's village at the Harbin Asian Winter Games at the Yabuli Ski Resort.

But during that special moment, he had neither teammates nor relatives by his side. He is Jordan's sole representative, and a one-man team.

Born and raised in the United States, Zawaideh has always held a deep affection for his homeland of Jordan, a country known for its hot, dry summers and vast deserts. He learned to ski in the U.S. and fell in love with the sport, eventually making a career as a ski instructor in Wyoming.

Despite his success, he longed to compete for Jordan, which experiences occasional snow in its northern regions during winter.

In 2010, Zawaideh reached out to the Jordan Olympic Committee, but with no winter sports federation in place at the time, he was unable to compete for his country.

"There aren't many Jordanians, or many Arabs, who ski," Zawaideh said.

For more than 20 years, the dual-national athlete navigated the contrasting cultural landscapes of the U.S. and Jordan. Unsure if his dream would ever materialize, he continued pursuing both his skiing career in the U.S. and his goal of representing Jordan.

In 2023, frustrated by unanswered emails to the Jordan Olympic Committee, Zawaideh took a bold step: he sent a direct message to the committee's official Instagram account.

Unexpectedly, he received a positive response. Now in his 40s, he successfully registered as an alpine skier for Jordan and earned a spot in the Asian Winter Games. He eventually finished 30th in the men's slalom on Sunday.

"It's been such a big part of my life that I wanted to find a way to blend my love of skiing with my dedication to Jordan and represent my country on an international stage," he said.

With this new identity comes a renewed sense of responsibility.

"In most of my races over the past year and a half, there hasn't been anyone watching. I go to compete, evaluate my performance, and say, 'Okay, you did well' or 'You did poorly.' But now, I feel the pressure and weight of representing my country."

"Slalom is a challenging event, where less than half of the skiers typically finish," he added.

While competitive skiing has become more intense, Zawaideh has learned to manage his anxiety over results with the wisdom gained from experience.

"I'm not here to win; I'm here to represent Jordan and hopefully inspire other Jordanians, Arabs, and people across Asia to try skiing, even if their countries aren't known for it," he told Xinhua.

Increasing Jordanian involvement in winter sports is crucial to him. He longs for the day when he won't be the only one on the slopes, attending coaching meetings solo or adjusting his skis by himself. He also has the honor of being Jordan's flag bearer at the opening ceremony in Harbin.

"I think the hardest thing to deal with isn't the skiing itself; it's the loneliness. I don't have a full team like many other countries. They have multiple athletes, coaches, and personal trainers, while I'm essentially on my own. It can definitely be lonely," he said.

Looking ahead, Zawaideh has set his sights on the 2026 Winter Olympics.

"I hope to inspire more Jordanians to try ice and snow sports. There's no reason we can't have skiers, skaters, and maybe even a hockey team in the future," he said.

"With the 2029 Asian Winter Games set to be held in Saudi Arabia, I believe this will encourage more Arabs to engage in winter sports."

Although he didn't receive birthday wishes from teammates or relatives, the oldest alpine skier at the Asian Winter Games celebrated with athletes from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other nations.

"It was truly the first time I felt understood, among people who share my passions. These are Arabs skiing and representing their countries just like me, and it was a fascinating and special experience," Zawaideh said. Enditem

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