BORMIO, Italy, Feb 10
Mother-Son Duo Make Olympic History, Despite Separate Venues
Mexican skiers Sarah Schleper and Lasse Gaxiola are set to become the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Games, though they won’t be sharing the finish line just yet.
- Mexican Alpine skier Lasse Gaxiola, 18, will make his Olympic debut in Saturday’s giant slalom in Bormio.
- His mother, Sarah Schleper, 46, will compete for Mexico in Cortina on Sunday, becoming the oldest female Alpine skier to appear in the Olympics.
- Schleper and Gaxiola will make history as the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Olympics.
- The pair will be separated by three hours of travel between venues, a situation Schleper believes will allow her son to focus.
Eighteen-year-old Lasse Gaxiola is preparing for his Olympic debut, but his mother won’t be cheering him on from the finish area in Bormio. Sarah Schleper, 46, is three hours away, preparing for her own race under the Mexican flag in Cortina on Sunday. This will mark Schleper’s seventh Olympic Games, making her the oldest female Alpine skier to ever compete in the event.
A Unique Olympic Dynamic
The pair’s participation isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about making history. Schleper and Gaxiola will become the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Games, a milestone that adds a unique layer to their Olympic journeys. “It’s difficult because we’re in two different venues,” Schleper said. “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.’”
Schleper, originally from Colorado, competed in her first four Olympics representing the United States before switching to the Mexican team after marrying her Mexican husband, Federico, and returning to the sport in 2015. Her best Olympic result came in 2006, where she finished 10th in the slalom. She was one of Mexico’s flagbearers at the opening ceremony in Milan-Cortina.
A Bittersweet Separation
Despite the excitement, the distance between them presents a bittersweet situation. “He is the same age as I was at my first Olympics (in Nagano in 1998),” Schleper reflected. “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 acknowledges the mixed emotions of not having his mother nearby. “In some ways, I’m happy that we’re apart because (having) her around does put a little extra pressure on me,” he said. “Sometimes I wish she was here with me so we could experience everything together, but it does help calm me down a little.”
A Legacy of Skiing
Gaxiola credits his mother with instilling in him a passion for the sport. “It feels great to give something back to her because she’s really taught me everything I know about skiing,” he said. “She’s been there throughout my whole skiing journey.”
Schleper recalled a poignant moment during the opening ceremony, saying she cried when she saw Lasse on the screen. “My first Olympics were a blur of emotion and ignorance. It’s like this whole thing has been destiny,” she said.
Gaxiola trained on the Bormio slopes on Tuesday alongside Jamaican entrant Henri Rivers IV and Kenyan Issa Laborde, preparing to compete on the challenging Stelvio course.
