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Family's Alpine Leap Fuels Olympic Dream
10 Feb
Summary
- Skier Makayla Gerken Schofield moved to France aged six.
- The family's move was for her and siblings' skiing careers.
- She competes in the 2026 Winter Olympics mogul event.
Makayla Gerken Schofield, a Team GB skier, attributes her sporting success to a "daunting" lifestyle change made when her family moved from Chelmsford, Essex, to the French Alps at age six. This bold decision was motivated by a desire to provide a future in skiing for Makayla and her two siblings.
Now 26, Schofield is preparing to compete in the women's mogul skiing event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. She aims to "have fun on my skis and enjoy it, because that's when I do my best," recalling her eighth-place finish at Beijing 2022.
Schofield trained for the first time in Livigno, Italy, on Monday, ahead of the competition. The move to France was initially challenging, with the young skier finding the French school system overwhelming. Despite initial homesickness, she is now grateful for the experience.
She expressed excitement for her second Olympic appearance, noting the vibrant atmosphere due to the absence of COVID-19 restrictions and favorable conditions, including good snow and blue skies.
