In an unprecedented Olympic moment, Mexican Alpine skiers Sarah Schleper and her teenage son Lasse Gaxiola are set to make history at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The duo will become the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Olympics, with Schleper also achieving a remarkable personal milestone as the oldest female Alpine skier ever to participate in the Games.
A Family Affair on the World Stage
While 18-year-old Lasse Gaxiola prepares for his Olympic debut in Saturday's giant slalom in Bormio, his mother Sarah Schleper will be three hours away in Cortina, focusing on her own race scheduled for Sunday. The 46-year-old Schleper, who will be competing under the Mexican flag, is making her seventh Olympic appearance—a record-breaking achievement that makes her the first female Alpine skier to reach this milestone.
Separate Venues, Shared Experience
"It's difficult because we're in two different venues," admitted Colorado-born Schleper, who has represented both the United States and Mexico during her illustrious career. "But it's also good because he can experience the Olympics as an individual instead of me telling him, 'Oh, you've got to trade pins, you must do this.' I'm always trying to give him too much advice. You can never stop being a mum and be just a teammate, so I'm kind of excited that he's not right next to me all the time."
Schleper's Olympic journey began in 1998 at Nagano, where she competed as an American athlete. After marrying her Mexican husband Federico and coming out of retirement in 2015, she has represented Mexico in her last three Olympic appearances. Her best result remains a 10th-place finish in the slalom at the 2006 Turin Games.
A Mother's Pride and Perspective
"He (Lasse) is the same age as I was at my first Olympics," noted Schleper, who served as one of Mexico's flagbearers at the opening ceremony in Milan-Cortina. "I'm just so proud of him. He's still a little bit of a brat, but this experience is going to help him grow up and understand how important this event is."
Gaxiola's Mixed Emotions
For young Lasse Gaxiola, who trained on the Bormio slopes alongside Jamaican entrant Henri Rivers IV and Kenyan Issa Laborde, not having his mother nearby presents both challenges and opportunities. "In some ways, I'm happy that we're apart because her presence does put a little extra pressure on me," he confessed. "Sometimes I wish she was here with me so we could experience everything together, but it does help calm me down a little."
The teenage skier acknowledges that his talent on the slopes comes directly from his mother's guidance. "It feels great to give something back to her because she's really taught me everything I know about skiing," Gaxiola said with evident appreciation. "She's been there throughout my whole skiing journey."
Emotional Connections Across Generations
Schleper experienced a powerful emotional moment when she spotted her son on screen during the opening ceremony, which transported her back to her own first Olympic experience. "My first Olympics were a blur of emotion and ignorance," she reflected. "It's like this whole thing has been destiny."
As both athletes prepare for their respective competitions, their unique family story adds a heartwarming dimension to the Olympic narrative. While they won't be cheering each other from the finish areas due to their different venues, their simultaneous participation creates an Olympic first that celebrates both family bonds and athletic excellence on the world's biggest winter sports stage.
