Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Anna-Lena Forster delivered a golden start for Germany at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Italy, securing victory in the women’s downhill sitting event. The 30-year-old monoskier completed the course in 1:25.79, a mere five hundredths of a second ahead of Spain’s Audrey Pascual Seco, according to reports from the International Paralympic Committee here.
Forster, who carried the German flag during the opening ceremony, added this gold medal to a decorated Paralympic career. She previously won silver in the downhill at the 2022 Beijing Games and now boasts a total of five Paralympic gold medals, alongside silver and bronze, bringing her overall medal count to ten. This victory marks her first gold in the downhill discipline. The win came on the first day of competition at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center, which faced challenging conditions due to thawing temperatures.
The podium was completed by China’s Liu Sitong, who finished 5.48 seconds behind Forster. The race wasn’t without drama. world champion Barbara van Bergen of the Netherlands fell during her run but was able to finish, while Momoka Muraoka of Japan, the 2022 downhill champion, did not start due to a recent collarbone injury. Yahoo Sports reported Forster expressed mixed feelings about her performance, stating, “The result is perfect, but the race itself was very wild.”
This initial success for Germany extended beyond the alpine skiing events. Within hours of Forster’s triumph, German athletes secured three bronze medals in biathlon. Anja Wicker claimed third place in the women’s sitting sprint, Marco Meier earned bronze in the men’s standing sprint, and Leonie Walter, guided by Christian Krasman, took bronze in the women’s vision impaired sprint. Observatorial detailed the strong start for the German team.
Forster’s Journey to Gold
Anna-Lena Forster, representing the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS), continues to build on a remarkable career. While she is now only two Paralympic victories shy of matching the record held by former monoski dominator Anna Schaffelhuber, she remains focused on the competitions ahead. She is slated to compete in the Super-G, Super-Combined, giant slalom, and slalom events in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Olympics.com highlighted her dedication to these upcoming races.
The victory held particular significance for Forster, as it allowed her to share the moment with family and friends in attendance. “We competed in front of our families and friends,” she said, according to reports. “Games in Europe come with these special feelings for us.” The German team also worked extensively on refining Forster’s equipment, specifically focusing on the damping of her mono-ski to navigate the challenging downhill course.
Broader Context of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, running from March 6th to March 15th, represent a significant moment for Para athletes from around the globe. These Games are being jointly hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and feature a diverse range of winter sports, including alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, and snowboarding. The Paralympics follow the Olympic Winter Games, which concluded in February 2026, and aim to showcase the incredible athleticism and determination of athletes with disabilities. The event is overseen by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which works to promote inclusion and accessibility in sport worldwide.
Germany’s strong start to the Games positions them as a potential force in the medal standings. The nation has a long and successful history in the Paralympic movement, and Forster’s gold medal serves as a powerful symbol of their continued commitment to Para sport. The coming days will see further competition across various disciplines, with athletes vying for medals and recognition on the world stage.
The Paralympics continue through March 15th, with athletes competing across multiple disciplines. Attention will now turn to the upcoming events in the schedule, as athletes and teams adjust to the conditions and strive for further success. Follow archyde.com for continued coverage of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.
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