History had already been made at the 2026 Winter Olympics before the Mexican skier reached the final stretch, but what awaited at the finish line made the moment even more powerful.
Mexico’s Regina Martinez was greeted with an emotional welcome after completing her medal event in Milan-Cortina, turning a personal, national milestone into a historic moment for her country at the Winter Games.
MORE: 2026 Winter Olympics TV schedule, Milan Cortina events on today – February 13
Martínez crossed the finish line well behind the leaders in the women’s 10-kilometer freestyle, her tears freezing in the bitter cold as she placed 108th overall in the field. Yet despite the result, the emotional moment marked a historic breakthrough for Mexico at the Winter Olympics.
“NADA ES IMPOSIBLE. QUE ESTO SIRVA DE EJEMPLO”
— Claro Sports (@ClaroSports) February 12, 2026
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
The 33-year-old, born in Mexico City and now an emergency room doctor in Miami, made history as the first Mexican woman to compete in cross-country skiing at the Winter Games. But while completing the women’s 10-kilometer freestyle race on Thursday, she was met with a heartfelt show of support at the finish line.
Sweden’s gold and silver medalists Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson, Team USA’s bronze medalist Jessie Diggins, along with Brazil’s Bruna Moura and Iran’s Samaneh Beyrami Baher, waited to embrace Martínez after the race. The medalists welcomed Martinez with an emotional reception at the finish line, a moment that highlighted the camaraderie within women’s sport.
“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 said in a post-race interview.
Regina Martínez is a Mexican cross-country skier who balances life in the emergency room with competing on the world’s biggest winter sports stage. A native of Mexico City, she was introduced to skiing during her medical internship in Minnesota, where the sport became a way to cope with the demands of training and the unforgiving cold.
When her career took her to Miami for residency, staying competitive in a snow-based sport seemed unrealistic. Instead of giving it up, Martínez adapted by training on roller skis on pavement and taking on extra work to afford trips to places with real snow. Martinez’s persistence paid off, as she went on to become the first woman ever to represent Mexico in cross-country skiing at the Winter Games.
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