Thai Skiers Bring Olympics Journey Full Circle in Italy

When Karen and Mark Chanloung take to the cross-country skiing trails at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, they'll be racing just hours from the Italian village where they first learned to glide across snow as children. But they won't be wearing Italy's colors.

The siblings, now 29 and 30, grew up in Gressoney-La-Trinité in Italy's Aosta Valley, born to an Italian mother and Thai father. In 2016, they made an unusual decision: they switched from Italy's national team to represent Thailand, a tropical nation with almost no winter sports tradition.

"It felt exciting to represent our dad's country and create something of our own," Karen told Reuters. The move meant fewer resources but a chance to build something meaningful from scratch.

Their father Boonchan now serves as team manager and technical leader, while their mother Maria Vittoria works as the team physiotherapist. This year, Grandma Ada will even make the trip to watch them compete. Karen will race the women's 10km while Mark tackles several endurance events, and both are expected to carry Thailand's flag at the opening ceremony on February 6.

The Ripple Effect

The Chanloungs didn't just represent Thailand. They helped create an entire winter sports program. Their father worked with them to establish a national federation from the ground up, and their Olympic appearances in 2018 and 2022 captured attention back home.

Thailand's sports authorities responded by investing in roller-skiing programs, using asphalt circuits to train young athletes in endurance sports. The effort is paying off: in 2024, Thailand won its first Winter Youth Olympic medal when an athlete claimed silver in women's monobob at Gangwon.

Mark now mentors the next generation of Thai skiers, offering guidance on technique and equipment. "The Thai winter sports federation is a young organization working with athletes who start from very basic levels," he explained. But he sees real progress: "Among the so-called exotic nations, Thailand has one of the most organized programs for kids and for winter sports in general."

The siblings' third Olympics holds special meaning beyond the medals. Karen will compete in Tesero, Val di Fiemme, the same venue where she raced as a junior athlete years ago.

A decade after their bold decision, the Chanloung siblings have proven that representing your heritage can create opportunities for an entire generation to follow.