Tesero, Italy – A day after a controversial disqualification cost her a silver medal, Leonie Walter of Germany secured a bronze in the women’s 10km classic cross-country skiing event at the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. The result provided a much-needed boost for the German team, though the day was too marked by disappointment for several other athletes.
The 22-year-old Walter navigated the challenging course in Tesero to claim her second medal of the Games, after initially being stripped of a silver medal in the sprint event due to a rules violation by her guide. “Yesterday I was unsure if I wanted to start again today or save my energy for biathlon,” Walter said, according to reports. “But I simply wanted to win a medal in cross-country skiing. Silver would have been much nicer, of course. But I’m happy to take bronze as well.”
The disqualification in the sprint event, stemming from a rule infringement by her guide, had been a source of frustration. However, Walter appeared to put that setback behind her, focusing on a strong performance in the 10km classic. The victory marks another significant achievement for Walter, who previously won a gold medal in the 10km event and three bronze medals in biathlon at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics.
Unfortunately, the day wasn’t as successful for all members of the German team. Kathrin Marchand and Sebastian Marburger were forced to withdraw from their respective races, while Anja Wicker narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing just 1.5 seconds off the podium.
The Games continued to be marked by political undertones as the Russian anthem played during the medal ceremony. Following the example of her teammate Linn Kazmaier and guide Florian Baumann from the previous day, Walter and her guide Christian Krasman chose to remove their hats as a gesture of protest during the playing of the Russian anthem. “I don’t think such an action during the award ceremony is remarkably effective. The world federations should consider whether Here’s a fair decision,” Walter stated. “We as athletes should still be able to enjoy the medal.”
Kazmaier and Baumann had demonstratively turned away during the Russian anthem and refused a joint victory selfie after being elevated to silver following Walter’s disqualification. When questioned by Russian journalists about the refusal, the German duo offered a curt “No comment” the following day.
The day also brought a dramatic turn of events for Kathrin Marchand. After a tearful fourth-place finish in the sprint, Marchand was in contention for a bronze medal halfway through the 10km race before being forced to abandon the competition. “I started to feel unwell after the second climb,” Marchand explained. “I felt dizzy, I could barely see, and I lost feeling in the left side of my body. I just couldn’t continue.”
German national coach Ralf Rombach acknowledged the team’s need to learn more about Marchand, who only transitioned to cross-country skiing 14 months ago after a successful career in rowing. Marchand is a unique athlete, having competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Summer and Winter Games.
Sebastian Marburger also faced a premature complete to his race, withdrawing after experiencing fatigue following his silver medal performance in the sprint. The visually impaired athlete had been competing for a podium position before being forced to stop. “It started to bother me with a slight stinging in my lungs from the third lap. I was too euphoric at the start and felt better than I was,” Marburger said, adding that a recent infection had impacted his condition.
Anja Wicker, competing in the sitting class, came incredibly close to securing her first Paralympic medal in cross-country skiing, missing out by a mere 1.5 seconds. “It was very close, probably a blink of an eye,” Wicker said. “I have no complaints about my race, but 1.5 seconds is painful at the Paralympics. But I gave it my all and I’m satisfied with my race.”
The Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games continue through March 15th, with 79 medal events scheduled, including 18 in Para biathlon. Leonie Walter will look to build on her success as the competition progresses, while her teammates aim to rebound from today’s challenges. The Para biathlon events are scheduled to begin on March 12th, offering another opportunity for the German team to add to their medal count.
