Although Mexico lacks a winter sports tradition, its flag has been present on the white Olympic stage for nearly a century. From St. Moritz 1928 to Beijing 2022, and now heading towards Milano-Cortina 2026, Mexican athletes have managed to carve a niche in historically European and North American-dominated disciplines.
How many Winter Olympics has Mexico participated in?
Mexico has competed in 10 Winter Olympic Games:
- St. Moritz 1928
- Sarajevo 1984
- Calgary 1988
- Albertville 1992
- Lillehammer 1994
- Salt Lake City 2002
- Vancouver 2010
- Sochi 2014
- PyeongChang 2018
- Beijing 2022
Throughout its history, Mexico has been absent in 14 editions, primarily during the latter half of the 20th century when winter sports development was virtually non-existent in the country.
The First Footprint: St. Moritz 1928
Mexico’s winter Olympic history began in St. Moritz 1928, with a feat that remains its best historical result. The Mexican bobsleigh team finished 11th, a position that has never been surpassed.
The first delegation consisted of Lorenzo Elizaga, Mario Casasús, Genaro Díaz, José Díaz, and Juan Ignacio de Landa, absolute pioneers of winter sports in Mexico.
Albertville 1992, the largest delegation
Mexico’s most extensive participation in a Winter Olympics occurred in Albertville 1992, with 20 athletes competing in disciplines such as alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, bobsleigh, and figure skating, both in male and female categories.
Notable names from that edition include Hubertus von Hohenlohe, Íñigo Domenech, Eduardo Ampudia, Carlos Mier, Verónica Ampudia, Mayda Navarro, and Roberto Álvarez, among others.
Hubertus von Hohenlohe: The Historical Face of Mexican Skiing
When discussing Mexico in Winter Olympics, one cannot overlook Hubertus von Hohenlohe, the Mexican athlete with the most winter Olympic appearances. He debuted in Sarajevo 1984 and competed again in 1988, 1992, 1994, 2002, 2010, and 2014.
Beyond his longevity, he served as Mexico’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies in Lillehammer 1994, Vancouver 2010, and Sochi 2014, becoming a pivotal figure in the development of Mexican alpine skiing.
No medals, but consistent presence
Mexico has yet to secure a podium finish in Winter Olympics. However, it has competed in six distinct disciplines:
- Alpine skiing
- Bobsleigh
- Cross-country skiing
- Figure skating
- Freestyle skiing
- Skeleton
Consistency, rather than results, has marked Mexico’s winter Olympic history.
Recent Momentum: From Beijing 2022 to Milano-Cortina 2026
In recent years, media attention has focused on Donovan Carrillo, who at Beijing 2022 made history by becoming the first Mexican to qualify for a Winter Olympic figure skating final. His participation broke nearly three decades of insignificant Mexican presence in the discipline and opened a new chapter for Mexico’s winter sports.
Looking towards Milano-Cortina 2026, Mexico will again compete with a small but symbolic delegation, including Carrillo, Sarah Schleper in alpine skiing, and newcomers Allan Corona and Regina Martínez in cross-country skiing. Additionally, Lasse Gaxiola narrowly missed out on the last alpine skiing spot, marking an unprecedented event as mother and child compete in the same Olympic games.
From 1928’s bobsleigh to present-day figure skating and cross-country skiing, Mexico’s presence in Winter Olympics has been a story of persistence rather than results. Milano-Cortina 2026 represents a new chapter, where historical athletes and emerging talents strive to solidify Mexico’s path in Olympic winter sports.
