Manuela Mölgg and Werner Heel have become parents again.

Baby is here: South Tyrolean ski dream couple beams with happiness

South Tyrol's ski family is growing: a dream couple from the scene was able to celebrate their second child.

August 09, 2025

From: det

For years, they caused a sensation together in the skiing world, but Manuela Mölgg (41) and Werner Heel (43) celebrated their greatest victories after their active careers: The South Tyrolean ski dream couple has started a family. A family that gained a new member this week. On Wednesday, Manuela gave birth to little Max. This means that their firstborn son, Ben (4), will have a little brother.

Mölgg and Heel announced the happy news on Instagram – and the skiing world celebrated for the two former stars. Whether Uncle Manni Mölgg (Manuela's brother), Peter Fill, Max Blardone, Anna Veith, or Frida Hansdotter – congratulations poured in from all sides.

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Manuela Mölgg and Werner Heel are among the most successful South Tyrolean skiers of recent decades. The Marebbe native reached the podium 283 times in 14 World Cup races, while the Passeier native achieved ten podium finishes in 204 appearances, including three top finishes. Perhaps Heel's most memorable victory came in the 2008 Super-G in Val Gardena.

How the spark between the two ignited

A few months after this triumph, Heel and Mölgg became closer for the first time. Their love story began, of all things, on one of Mölgg's most tragic skiing days. In February 2009, "Manu" was leading at halftime in the World Cup slalom, but was eliminated in the deciding race with just a few goals to go and on course for gold. "I was devastated. Werner then texted me that he would invite me for a drink at the bar if I wanted to talk about something other than skiing. Shortly after that, the sparks flew between us," Mölgg once said in an interview.

Manuela Mölgg is now a mother of two. © APA/afp / CHRISTOF STACHE

The two retired in 2018 (Manuela) and 2019 (Werner). While Mölgg now runs the family residence in San Vigilio, Heel has remained loyal to the ski circuit and works for the ski company Atomic.