Mother and Son to Make Olympic History Together for Mexico in 2026

A First for the Winter Olympics in 2026

According to Главком: The 2026 Winter Games will witness an unprecedented Olympic moment: a mother and son competing together on the same national team in the same sport. Mexican alpine skiers Sarah Schleper, 46, and her 17-year-old son, Lasse Gaxiola, will make history, a feat never before seen at a Winter Olympics. This unique pairing highlights the diverse paths athletes take to reach the world's biggest sporting stage.

Sarah Schleper brings a wealth of experience, having begun her career skiing for the United States in 1998 and competing in four Olympics. After gaining Mexican citizenship in 2014, she has represented Mexico at the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Games. The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics will mark her seventh Olympic appearance, with her career-best result being a 10th-place finish in slalom back in 2006.

Lasse Gaxiola and the Mexican Team

Lasse Gaxiola, born in Mexico, earned his Olympic qualification by achieving a high national ranking and meeting the International Ski Federation's standards. This will be only the second time in Olympic history a mother and son compete simultaneously. The first instance was at the 2016 Rio Summer Games, where Georgian shooters Nino Salukvadze and her son Tsotne Machavariani competed together.

The Mexican delegation for the 2026 Games will consist of five athletes:

• Sarah Schleper
• Lasse Gaxiola
• Regina Martínez
• Allan Corona
• Donovan Carrillo

Alpine skiing competitions are scheduled to begin on February 7.

This historic moment for Mexican sport underscores the nation's growing presence in winter sports, which are not traditionally associated with the country. The participation of a mother-son duo is likely to inspire a new generation of athletes and draw greater attention to winter sports development in Mexico. The 2026 Olympics promise to be a significant platform for showcasing Mexican talent on the global stage.