Axel Lesser (born 18 April 1946 in Brotterode) is a former East German cross-country skier who competed in the 1960s and 1970s.

He earned a silver medal in the 4 x 10 km at the 1970 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Vysoké Tatry.

At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Lesser was the second skier on the East German team that was in second place when he collided with a spectator, injured his knee, and had to abandon the race.

He is the grandfather of Erik Lesser, a biathlete who won a silver medal in the 20km individual event at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

[1] This biographical article relating to German cross-country skiing is a stub.