Vail’s Sarah Schleper became the oldest female Alpine skier to compete in an Olympic Games on Thursday.

Schleper, who turns 47 on Feb. 19, was the 43rd and final skier to take to the Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina. She let out her signature roar before pushing out of the gate. Schleper crossed the first split 1.23 seconds off the lead but looked smooth and under control as she carved through the 2,105-meter course.

It was the Vail athlete’s dream to ski at the same Olympics as her son, Lasse, who is making his Olympic debut in the giant slalom on Saturday. Schleper held her son as she skied down the course of her final World Cup slalom race in Lienz, Austria on Dec. 29, 2011 before retiring from the U.S. Ski Team. According to Olympic historian Bill Mallon, the duo will become the first mother and son to compete at the same Winter Games.

Schleper made her World Cup debut at the age of 16 on Nov. 18, 1995 in her hometown of Vail. She collected four podiums — including a win in Lenzerheide in 2005 — over 15 seasons before retiring in 2011. Schleper spent her first four Olympics skiing for the U.S. but has represented Mexico at the last three Games. She carried the Mexican flag in the opening ceremonies last week and in Beijing four years ago.

“For me, success is just us both being here,” Schleper told the Associated Press earlier this week.

Picabo Street — a former teammate of Schleper’s — said on the NBC broadcast that Schleper is her own technician.

“She tuned her own skis; she’s like, ‘I checked my own DIN on my bindings,’ she had to borrow a knife to be able to clean the bottom of her boots off to get in,” Street said. “It just goes to show (she’ll) do anything she can to get back in the starting gate of another race because it’s just so fun to ski.”

A four-time World Cup podium finisher, Schleper crossed the line in 1:31.37 to place 26th, 7.96 seconds behind winner Federica Brignone. Schleper was the last of 26th finishers as 17 athletes posted DNFs, including downhill gold medalist Breezy Johnson and fellow American Mary Bocock.

The event was emotional for Brignone as it was significant for Schleper.

The Italian captured the overall, downhill and giant slalom crystal globes last year (and finished runner-up in the super-G) but suffered a comminuted fracture of the tibial plateau and fibular head in her left leg at the Italian National Championships last April. She also ruptured her ACL in the crash after slamming into two gates.

In January, the 35-year-old told FIS the Olympics were “a big goal” but she was unsure which disciplines she’d participate in.

“It depends on my leg,” she said on Jan. 19. “I still need to train and see if it’s makeable and if I have the level to make it.

A few weeks later — on home soil no less — Brignone topped the field by 0.41 seconds to capture her fourth Olympic medal and first of the gold variety.

“It’s crazy. I don’t think I’ve realized it, even with some time already,” she told the media. “I was an underdog. I was an outsider, but I know what I can do with my skis.”

France’s Romane Miradoli took the silver and Cornelia Huetter claimed bronze, one hundredth ahead of teammate Ariane Raedler. Pre-race favorites Emma Aicher and Sofia Goggia failed to finish.

The women’s Alpine races continue with giant slalom on Feb. 15. Schleper plans to compete and then hitch a ride over to Bormio to watch her son contest the men’s slalom the following day.