Alexa and Chris Knierim, the beloved Olympic figure skaters, have announced that they are expecting their first child. The couple, who first became skating partners in 2012 and started dating just a month later, have shared their journey to parenthood with fans. The pregnancy comes after Alexa faced significant health challenges, including being diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal gastrointestinal condition that led to three surgeries.
Alexa's health ordeal left her weighing just 80 pounds at one point. Despite the tough times, she remained optimistic and openly shared her struggles with the public. "It was a hard year, but it made us grow in ways I don’t think we could have if we didn’t go through the traumatic experience that we did," Alexa reflected on their journey.
The couple tied the knot in June 2016, with their wedding ceremony officiated by Dalilah Sappenfield. The event was a gathering of skating royalty, attended by fellow Olympians Ashley Wagner and Adam Rippon. Alexa and Chris made history as the first married pair to compete at the Olympics since Jenni Meno and Todd Sand in 1998, when they represented Team USA in PyeongChang in 2018, securing a bronze medal for their country.
Their journey towards starting a family was supported by in vitro fertilization. Alexa recently disclosed that they are 23 weeks into the pregnancy and are expecting a baby boy. She expressed her excitement on social media, sharing, "Our baby boy is 23 weeks along! We are eagerly anticipating the joyful moments that await us. 🩵"
The couple's bond has only strengthened over the years through both personal and professional challenges. "Everything that we went through, that helped strengthen our relationship together," Chris shared. Their unique partnership on the ice has been marked by their deep understanding of each other. As Alexa once put it, “We just know everything about each other, and I think it helps in the day-to-day when we go to practice and when we compete.”