Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Andrea Rothfuss, a veteran of seven Winter Paralympic Games, began her competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympics on Thursday, March 7th, a testament to her enduring dedication, and resilience. The German para-alpine skier, 36, has already amassed 14 Paralympic medals throughout her career, and is competing at the Games for the first time since 2022.
Rothfuss’s participation in these Games is particularly noteworthy given her long and decorated career. Having first competed at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin, she has consistently represented Germany on the world stage. Her presence in Italy underscores a remarkable longevity in a demanding sport.
German Medal Success Early in the Games
Germany has already begun to make its mark at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, securing a total of seven medals as of March 8th. This includes one gold, one silver, and five bronze medals. The German team is competing in five sports at these Games, with 40 athletes – 29 men and 11 women – representing the nation. Anna-Lena Forster and Jörg Wedde are serving as the flag bearers for the German delegation.
Rothfuss’s Paralympic History and Recent Performance
Whereas specific details regarding Rothfuss’s performance in the current Games are still unfolding, her past achievements speak volumes. She has consistently been a force in para-alpine skiing, demonstrating skill and determination across multiple Paralympic cycles. The official Paralympics website highlights her strong performance at the PyeongChang 2018 Games, though details of that competition were not specified.
At the 2026 Games, Germany has seen medal success in both Para alpine skiing and Para biathlon. Anna-Lena Forster secured gold in the Women’s downhill, sitting, on March 7th. Anja Wicker claimed silver in the Women’s individual, sitting, Para biathlon event on March 8th, and has too added two bronze medals in Para biathlon sprints. Marco Maier has contributed two bronze medals in Para biathlon, while Leonie Walter (with guide Christian Krasman) and Johanna Recktenwald (with guide Emily Weiss) each earned a bronze in the women’s sprint and individual visually impaired Para biathlon events, respectively.
Medal Table Snapshot (March 8th)
Here’s a breakdown of Germany’s medal count as of March 8th:
- Gold: 1
- Silver: 1
- Bronze: 5
- Total: 7
The Para biathlon events have been particularly successful for Germany thus far, accounting for six of the seven medals won. Anja Wicker and Marco Maier have emerged as key medal contenders for the German team.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 Winter Paralympics continue through March 15th in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Andrea Rothfuss will continue to compete, and fans can follow her progress and the performance of the entire German team on the official Paralympics website: https://www.paralympic.org/ and through official updates from the National Paralympic Committee Germany (https://www.dbs-npc.de/). The next few days promise further excitement and compelling stories from these Games.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics, including detailed results, athlete profiles, and insightful analysis.
