A photo from 2011: Sarah Schleper with her son Lasse. © AFP / SAMUEL KUBANI

Mother and son: Crazy Olympic story leads to South Tyrol

The Olympic Games offer numerous curious, sometimes crazy stories. One of them is written by a skier who was once a World Cup winner – and who has now accomplished a unique feat with her son.

February 16, 2026

Diary from Cortina d'Ampezzo

To get from the Curling Center in Cortina – the "heart" of the Olympic town in the Dolomites – to the finish area of ​​the legendary Tofana slope takes me about 25 minutes. It's an almost adventurous journey: every single horsepower of the minibus is needed on this steep, narrow, and often uneven road – and yet the vehicle groans under the strain at every turn.

Nevertheless, this tour is always an experience for me, as I meet all sorts of different people. Press representatives, volunteers, support staff, and even the athletes themselves don't want to miss the women's ski races. And so, the other day, I overheard an interesting conversation between two German athletes – I suspect they're bobsledders. "Did you see?" one of them said, scrolling through his smartphone feed. "One of the skiers is skiing with her son; that's never happened before!"

Sarah Schleper (second from right) with a small Mexican delegation. © AFP / ALFREDO ESTRELLA

Such statements naturally set off my journalistic alarm bells, and so I immediately began my research in the press room at the foot of the Tofana slope. And indeed, I quickly found what I was looking for: American Sarah Schleper, competing for Mexico, was still skiing down the Olympic course in Cortina at the impressive age of 46, while her 18-year-old son, Lasse Gaxiola, made his Olympic debut in the giant slalom in Bormio. Mother and son at the Winter Olympics – according to the official Olympic website, this was unprecedented.

She was once a World Cup star.

Ski-loving readers will likely recognize the name Schleper, as she was once a major figure in the World Cup, having competed in 194 races and achieved four podium finishes (including one victory). Schleper had officially announced her retirement in 2011. However, in her final race in Lienz, she crossed the finish line with her son Lasse in her arms, creating an image that has since become circulating throughout the sporting world. Both will be competing in the 2026 Olympics. Schleper has been married to Mexican skier Federico Gaxiola since 2007 and has not only acquired his citizenship but has also occasionally returned to racing and participating in major events.

A look back at 2022, when Schleper (right) was Mexico's flag bearer. © AFP / MANAN VATSYAYANA

After yesterday's giant slalom, I caught up with Schleper in the mixed zone. She was initially a bit annoyed, as she had been disqualified after the first run because her skis were just a fraction too long. But then her expression gradually brightened. She was talking about her son Lasse, who made his Olympic debut in Bormio on Saturday. "Honestly, I had butterflies in my stomach when I saw that," said the 46-year-old. "Now I'm going to Bormio to cheer him on in the slalom."

Denise Karbon is one of the best friends

The bitter race was finally forgotten when I asked Schleper about her special connection to South Tyrol. "Former ski star Denise Karbon is one of my best friends. The Karbons are like a second family to me," Schleper said. "When I was still competing in the World Cup for the US team, they always had a bed ready for me. Denise, her brother Pirmin, and her parents Arnold and Rosmarie showed me the world and culture of South Tyrol. Kastelruther Spatzen, Schüttelbrot (a type of flatbread), pizza – I loved that time," the Olympian said.

Denise Karbon is a close friend of Sarah Schleper. © EPA

Schleper's love for South Tyrol went so far that she, her husband Federico Gaxiola, and their two children – including Lasse – lived in Kastelruth for a total of two years. "The children went to school and kindergarten, and my husband and I enjoyed this breathtaking region," says Schleper. It was also during this time that her son Lasse competed in the ski races for the ASC Seiser Alm. "He speaks perfect South Tyrolean dialect," says his mother, who, incidentally, has also retained a bit of South Tyrolean dialect herself. "Donkschian," she says at the end of our interview.