19-year old Axisa Eriksen has already made history as the first cross-country skier to represent Malta at the Winter Olympic Games. Born to a Norwegian father and a Maltese mother, Axisa Eriksen discovered her passion for skiing at an early age and has dedicated her efforts to competing at top-level events, including the Norwegian Cup, Junior National Championships and the World Championships in Trondheim. It was at the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim that she secured her qualification for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

Since then she has further intensified her training programme in preparation for the Games. This season also marks her first year competing as a senior athlete. She has been based in Lillehammer, training with Team Hedmark Sjusjøen under the guidance of coach Henrik Pedersen. Her season has included participation in several high-level competitions, including the Norwegian Season Opening, the Norwegian Cup, the Scandinavian Cup in Östersund, Sweden, and the German Cup in Hohenzollern-Abersee.

Jenny Axisa Eriksen will carry the Maltese flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Predazzo Cluster, where Team Malta will be based, which will take place on 6 February at the Ski Jumping Stadium.

The Chef de Mission for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games is Maria Vella-Galea, Director of Media and PR of the Maltese Olympic Committee. She will be joined by Charlene Attard, Director of Sport and Coach Henrik Skjervold Pedersen. Maltese Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello and Secretary General Kevin Azzopardi will attend the Games as guests of the International Olympic Committee.

Malta’s participation in Milano Cortina 2026 marks the fourth time the nation has competed at the Winter Olympic Games. Previous Maltese Olympians include Elise Pellegrin (Alpine Skiing) at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, and Jenise Spiteri (Snowboarding) at Beijing 2022.