While Singapore is better known for its tropical heat, one athlete is currently making history in the heart of the Italian Alps. Faiz Basha Munwar has officially stepped into the spotlight as the sole representative for Singapore at the Winter Olympic Games this year.

For athletes at the ongoing 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, a podium finish can come with six-figure checks.

Age of Sports' channel will broadcast his giant slalom and slalom events live on Feb 14 and 16. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Discover Singaporean Alpine skier Faiz Basha's calm approach and unique journey as he prepares for his Winter Olympic debut. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE: Singapore alpine skier Faiz Basha overcame tricky conditions in the first run of the men's slalom at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Italy, to finish 35th overall on Monday (Feb 16).

A host of countries offer their athletes a six-figure sum if they win gold, including Hong Kong, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Czechia and Spain. Team GB, however, do not offer athletes prize money based on their performance alone.

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics have brought together thousands of elite athletes, all chasing a place on the podium. While medals are the most visible reward, financial incentives also play a significant role for competitors from certain countries, where governments and sporting bodies offer substantial payouts for podium finishes.

Team Canada athletes get $20,000 for gold, while Singapore and Hong Kong pay out massive six-figure sums and winter powerhouses like Norway pay their athletes zero for medals.