MILAN, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Karen and ‌Mark Chanloung grew up in the Italian Alps where winter sports are a way of life ‌and children are on skis almost as soon as they can stand.

At the Milano Cortina 2026 ‌Winter Olympics, however, they will be representing Thailand, a tropical nation with little tradition but growing ambitions in winter sport.

The cross-country skiing siblings, born to an Italian mother and a Thai father, were raised in Gressoney-La-Trinité in Italy's Aosta Valley.