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.

Singapore ranks highest, but top-of-table Norway and other nations do not pay their athletes anything for a podium finish.

Basha’s just the second athlete from the tropical country — temperature today: 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 Celsius) — to compete at a Winter Games. Born in Singapore, Basha was introduced to ski racing during his time living in Switzerland, when his parents moved there while his dad served as a diplomat.

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

He will be taking part in the giant slalom on Feb 14, followed by the slalom two days later. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Team USA's Olympic gold payout may surprise you - especially compared to the nearly $800K offered elsewhere.

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.

Winning an Olympic medal brings pride to any athlete. Many countries also add cash rewards for those podium finishes. Using data shared by USA Today for the 2026 Winter Olympics (25 countries responded to the site’s query),

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.