"I’d Rather Make Mistakes On My Own Path Than Play it Safe" - Rakan Alireza, Olympic Cross-Country Skier and Rower

<p>A pioneering Saudi athlete who defied expectations by qualifying to represent Saudi Arabia in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, becoming the first Saudi male skier to do so.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Since his international skiing debut in 2021, he has competed in multiple FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, including Planica 2023 and Trondheim 2025. Despite training in a city with no snow, Rakan’s daily regimen built on running, swimming, cycling, and hill climbs, reflects a relentless commitment to excellence that has propelled him from the desert to the world stage.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Away from the snow, Rakan is also a decorated rower, inspired by his cousin Hussein Alireza, who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He is a multiple-time GCC indoor rowing champion and a national champion at the Saudi Games who has represented Saudi Arabia at the 2022 Asian Games in single sculls.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>0:00 Intro</p><p>4:13 Start of The Journey</p><p>7:24 Rowing</p><p>9:07 Embracing Challenges</p><p>12:08 What are the Saudi Games?</p><p>15:23 Rowing to Skiing?</p><p>18:04 Olympic Qualifications</p><p>30:24 Skiing Without Snow</p><p>33:05 Olympics Selection and Winter Sports</p><p>36:29 Maintaining Mental Strength</p><p>50:19 Olympic Ambitions and Self Advice</p><p>54:35 Closing Thoughts</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Mo Show</p><p>Youtube https://bit.ly/3nDwsZv</p><p>Apple Podcast https://apple.co/3J9ScX4</p><p>Spotify https://spoti.fi/33dzsC2</p><p>Anghami https://bit.ly/3mRo1uy</p><p>Instagram https://bit.ly/2KAwq5v</p><p>X https://bit.ly/3KanEnJ</p><p>TikTok https://bit.ly/43L92po</p><p>Website https://bit.ly/3H2DhMM</p><p>Email [email protected]</p><p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Presented By:KAFD&nbsp;</p><p>App https://apple.co/4e9BdU0</p><p>Website https://bit.ly/3YktQUI</p><p>Instagram https://bit.ly/3YFpWGn</p><p>X https://bit.ly/3LMJOzi</p><p>LinkedIn <a href="https://bit.ly/3A0b2QJ">https://bit.ly/3A0b2Q</a>J</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p></p><p></p><p>Saudia&nbsp;</p><p>Website https://bit.ly/495n6fB</p><p>Instagram https://bit.ly/3UgTTdA</p><p>X https://bit.ly/4beIQY8</p><p>Whoophttps://join.whoop.com/gb/en/moshow/</p><p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Noon&nbsp;</p><p>Instagram https://bit.ly/3XRScUY</p><p>Website https://bit.ly/44lnA1S&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Pizza Hut Jeddah</p><p>Instagram https://bit.ly/3T87mjt</p><p>Website http://bit.ly/3UtnkWq</p><p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>IWC&nbsp;</p><p>Instagram https://bit.ly/44dxbFW</p><p>Website https://bit.ly/43K8JMk</p><p></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Credits</p><p>Rakan Alireza | Guest</p><p>Mo Islam | Host Founder</p><p>Ryan Ismail | COO</p><p>Faisal Nejaim | Show Manager</p><p>Gregoris Kalai | Head of Strategy</p><p>Tito | Creative Director</p><p>Youssef Hamieh | Production Manager</p><p>Translation Powered by “STUCK?”</p>