Regina Martínez pushed across the finish line in last place, tears freezing on her cheeks, a distant 108th in the women’s 10-kilometer freestyle — and squarely in the center of Mexican Olympic history.
The 33-year-old Mexico City native, now an emergency-room doctor in Miami, Florida, became the first Mexican woman to compete in cross-country skiing at a Winter Games.
In a race on Thursday marked by a demanding course and challenging snow conditions at Milano-Cortina, Martínez finished in 34 minutes, 5.4 seconds — more than 11 minutes behind the winner, Frida Karlsson of Sweden.
Yet Martínez drew one of the loudest ovations at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium for her stamina and determination.
“Incredible, this is an unforgettable experience, a dream come true, and it fills me with happiness and pride to be able to share this moment with you and with Mexico,” she told Claro Sports in an exclusive post-race interview.
Martínez discovered cross-country skiing in her late 20s while a medical student at the University of Minnesota, battling “cold, loneliness and seasonal depression” before the sport gave her “a way to be outside, to move, to enjoy nature.”
She had an unlikely path to the Olympics: from a youth soccer player in the UNAM Pumas academy in Mexico City to a family move to Costa Rica as a teenager (where she played soccer at a high level) to college at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, to a master’s degree in public health at Columbia University in New York City.
After finishing Thursday’s race, Martínez was first embraced by Brazil’s Bruna Moura, then greeted by Karlsson and Ebba Andersson of Sweden and American Jessie Diggins — the three medalists who waited to congratulate the final finisher.
On top of all that was the cheering by the fans.
“Incredible, incredible. I honestly never thought I’d see so many Mexicans at a Nordic skiing event,” Martínez said. “It was amazing to be able to hear them every moment, on every climb, on every descent.”
Mexico has never won a Winter Olympics medal and has brought only five athletes to Italy across three sports — alpine skiing, cross-country and figure skating.
“NADA ES IMPOSIBLE. QUE ESTO SIRVA DE EJEMPLO” 🇲🇽❄️👏
Regina Martínez habló EN EXCLUSIVA con Claro Sports tras hacer historia en Milano Cortina 2026, al convertirse en la primera mujer mexicana en competir en esquí de fondo en unos Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno.
¡ORGULLO!🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/QEyGs8CIau
— Claro Sports (@ClaroSports) February 12, 2026
However, 46-year-old alpine skier Sarah Schleper, competing in her seventh Winter Games and third for Mexico, finished 26th in the women’s super-G in 1:31.37, the best result ever by a Mexican woman in Olympic alpine skiing and tied for the country’s top finish in the sport.
Schleper had the slowest time, but several skiers failed to even finish on a slope that was battered by adverse weather conditions. The four-time U.S. Olympian, yet never medalist, races again in the giant slalom on Sunday.
Her 17-year-old son, Lasse Gaxiola, will make his Olympic debut in the men’s giant slalom on Saturday — which will make them the first mother-son duo to compete for Mexico at the same Winter Games.
On the ice, Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo advanced to the men’s free skate after placing 23rd in the short program; the top 24 qualified.
Mexican cross country skier Allan Corona, 35, will race in the men’s 10 km freestyle event Friday.
With reports from Olympics.com, Claro Sports, Infobae, NBC Miami and Reuters
