Olympic Skier Freezes Eggs to Keep Racing at 31

Paula Moltzan isn't slowing down at 31. She's getting faster, smarter, and louder about helping other women athletes plan their futures.

The two-time World Championships medalist grew up at Buck Hill, a tiny Minnesota ski area with just 15 trails. At age 2, she'd toddle around her mom's ski lessons, teaching fallen kids how to get back up. That same Minnesota grit carried her through setbacks, including losing her U.S. Ski Team spot as a teenager.

Now she's thriving on the World Cup circuit, consistently finishing in the top ranks. But Moltzan realized something important: she's at her peak right now, not 10 years ago.

"I used to be more willing to grind out long sessions in the gym," she says. Now she trains smarter, checking in with her body before hard workouts and working closely with a physical therapist. She focuses on making every rep count instead of just piling on volume.

Her biggest move happened off the slopes. Moltzan partnered with Northeastern Reproductive Medicine and froze her eggs, making her one of the first professional skiers to publicly discuss fertility planning.

"I'm 31, but I'm still peaking in my career," she explains. "I'm not ready to retire, but I also know I want to have a family."

Why This Inspires

Moltzan is changing the conversation for women athletes everywhere. For decades, female athletes faced an impossible choice: compete during their prime years or start families during their most fertile years.

By speaking openly about egg freezing, she's showing younger athletes they don't have to choose. She's proving that planning ahead gives you power, not limitations.

Her partnership with a fertility clinic is also groundbreaking for ski racing. While male athletes rarely think about their biological clocks, Moltzan is making reproductive health a normal part of athletic careers.

"It's about making sure you're taking care of yourself and staying in contact with people that you love," she says. "It's making sure you've built that support system to be strong for you."

Women athletes are watching, learning, and feeling less alone in their own family planning decisions.