Mexican Alpine skier Lasse Gaxiola will have his mother for company on his Olympic debut but she will not be cheering him from the finish area in Saturday's giant slalom in Bormio because she will be three hours away preparing her own race.
Teenager Gaxiola's mother is 46-year-old Sarah Schleper, who will also be skiing under the Mexican flag in Cortina on Sunday, becoming the oldest female Alpine skier to compete at the Olympics and the first to appear at seven Games.
On top of that Schleper and Gaxiola, 18, will become the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Games.
"It's difficult because we're in two different venues," Colorado-born Schleper said.
"but also it's 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,'" she said.
"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 competed at her first four Olympics as an American and in the next three she has represented Mexico after marrying her Mexican husband Federico and coming out of retirement in 2015. Her best result was 10th in the slalom in 2006.
"He (Lasse) is the same age as I was at my first Olympics (in Nagano in 1998)," Schleper said. She was one of Mexico's flagbearer at the opening ceremony in Milan-Cortina, said.
"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 trained on the Bormio slopes on Tuesday along with Jamaican entrant Henri Rivers IV and Kenyan Issa Laborde as they prepare to rub shoulders with the elite racers on the Stelvio.
He says not having his mother there was a mixed blessing.
"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," he added.
Gaxiola says he owes his skiing talent to his mother.
"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," he said.
Schleper said she cried when she spotted Lasse on a screen during the opening ceremony and said it took her back to when she experienced her first Games in Nagano.
"My first Olympics were a blur of emotion and ignorance. It's like this whole thing has been destiny," she said.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks...
China has officially opened the Pinglu Canal, a $10.75 billion waterway giving the country's landlocked southwest a shorter, direct route to th...
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held high-level talks in Seoul aimed at expanding South Korean investment, industrial cooperation and partnershi...
U.S. President Donald Trump has again said Iran is keen to reach a deal quickly, but a senior Iranian security official rejected the claim, saying Tehran will not negotiate until its conditions are met.
A Danish military helicopter came within “metres” of being struck by flares fired by a Russian warship, Denmark's Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said on Tuesday. Russia accused Denmark of carrying out “dangerous manoeuvres” near its ship, and said it was investigating the incident.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks by the Iran-aligned group deepen regional tensions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is outlining the EU's priorities in her annual State of the Union address, covering security, support for Ukraine, trade with China, migration, climate and artificial intelligence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight.
China has officially opened the Pinglu Canal, a $10.75 billion waterway giving the country's landlocked southwest a shorter, direct route to the sea and Southeast Asian markets.
Pakistan has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia at the United Nations, warning that escalating fighting in Yemen and increased activity around the Bab al-Mandab Strait threaten regional stability, global shipping and energy security.
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes, including murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention.
Wednesday's session of the 24th Arab Media Summit in Dubai has shifted the discussion towards a central question for modern media: how can regional news organisations tell their own stories while reaching audiences far beyond their borders?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment