Alexandra "Saška" Rexová is a Slovak para alpine skier from the Záhorie region and one of the best skiers in the world in her category. Her mum and grandpa taught her to ski when she was five, and from an early age she knew that sport would be her best friend. But between the ages of six and seven, her sight began to fade. She has Stargardt disease, a hereditary condition that gradually takes away central vision. She describes her world as looking through dusty transparent tape: all she sees is fog and patches of colour.

When the illness took away tennis and ball sports, she went back to the slopes. At twelve, she joined a junior Paralympic camp in Jasná, and a new journey began. On the course, her guide skis just ahead of her, calling out every gate. The rest is courage, instinct and complete trust.

At sixteen, she stunned the world at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics, winning gold in the super-G and bronze in the slalom. She went on to conquer the World Cup, lifting the big Crystal Globe. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics, she added three bronze medals in downhill, super-G and slalom, and was Slovakia's only medalist at the Games.

Today her story inspires even the youngest: a children's book about brave Saška teaches kids that being different is okay and that giving up is never the answer. Alexandra is living proof that the brightest light shines from within.

Alexandra Rexova