It is not unusual for sporting success to run in families, largely in part to common fortunate genes and similar upbringing. Below are examples of just some of the more interesting related athletes who have competed at the Winter Olympic Games. See more Winter Olympic Trivia.
Brothers
- At the 1988 Winter Olympics, four brothers made up both of Mexico's teams in the 2-man bobsled event - Eduardo, Jorge, Adrian and Roberto Tames - the most siblings to compete in a single Winter Olympic Games event.
- In 1976 in men's 15 km cross-country skiing, three Argentina's brothers Marcos Luis, Martín Tomás and Matías José Jerman all competed.
- Three New Zealand brothers competed PyeongChang in 2018, Byron Wells and Beau-James Wells in the halfpipe, while Jackson Wells in the slopestyle. Their eldest brother Jossi Wells competed in Sochi but was unavailable in 2018 due to injury.
Sisters
- In the 1960 women's slalom Alpine skiing event, three French sisters Anne-Marie, Marguerite and Thérèse Leduc all competed together.
- Canadian sisters competed in women's moguls at Sochi 2014 - Justine Dufour-Lapointe (gold), Chloe Dufour-Lapointe (silver) and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe (12th).
- Sisters Hannah Brandt and Marissa Brandt competed in ice-hockey in PyeongChang 2018, one representing the USA and the other Korea.
Sister - Brother
- The Fernández Ochoa family from Spain had five siblings (3 brothers, 2 sisters) compete in alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics: Francisco, Juan Manuel, Luis, Blanca and Dolores Fernández Ochoa. Their father ran a local ski school.
- Italian cross-country skiers and siblings Fulvio Valbusa (1992-2006) and Sabina Valbusa (1994-2010) each competed in five Winter Olympics.
- In the 2010 ice dancing event, siblings Chris, Cathy, and Allison Reed all competed, with Chris and Cathy competing for Japan, and Allison for Georgia.
Father - Son
- At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Werner Hoeger from Venezuela competed in the luge alongside his son Christopher Hoeger, becoming the only father and son to ever compete in the same event in the Olympic Winter Games.
- Austrian Matthias Mayer won the men's downhill event in 2014. His father, Helmut Mayer, won a silver medal in Super-G in 1988 at Calgary.
Father - Daughter
- In 1968, Odd Martinsen from Norway won a silver medal in the men's 30km cross-country race, while in 2002, his daughter Bente Skari-Martinsen won bronze in the same event for women.
Families
- British freestyle aerials skier Lloyd Wallace is set to compete in PyeongChang 2018. His father Robin Wallace represented Great Britain at the 1988 Calgary Olympics when freestyle was first introduced as a demonstration sport. His Mother, Jilly Curry, competed in two Olympic games – Albertville in 1992 and Lillehammer in 1994.
Related Pages
- Oldest and Youngest at the Summer Olympics
- Winter Olympians — profiles of great athletes from the Winter Olympics
- Summer Olympic Games Families
- Winter Olympics Trivia