Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Anna-Lena Forster delivered a golden start for Germany at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, winning the women’s downhill in the sitting class. The Monoskifahrerin completed the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo with a mere five-hundredths of a second advantage over Spain’s Audrey Pascual Seco, securing her first Paralympic gold in the event. China’s Sitong Liu finished third, adding to the excitement of the opening day of competition.
The victory marks Forster’s fifth Paralympic medal building on her previous successes that include two titles each in slalom and super-combined. This gold adds to the silver medal she earned in the downhill at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics. The 30-year-old Forster carried the German flag into the opening ceremony, a testament to her standing as a leader within the German Paralympic team.
“Simply incredible,” Forster exclaimed, as she began a series of interviews with the German flag draped over her shoulders. She admitted to briefly believing the gold medal had slipped away when Pascual Seco posted a strong intermediate time. “But somehow, I managed to pull it off at the bottom. It was a real thriller. I think it’s amazing when races unfold like today, when it’s so, so close,” she said.
Despite the perfect result, Forster acknowledged that her run wasn’t without its challenges. “The result is perfect, but the race itself was very wild. I had a couple of moments where I thought, ‘Oh God, you really can’t afford to do that,’” she explained. A prior crash by Dutch racer Barbara van Bergen, which briefly halted the competition, did not impact Forster’s performance.
The race took place at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Conditions on the course were described as somewhat compromised due to warmer temperatures, adding an extra layer of difficulty for the athletes.
Wicker Claims Bronze in Biathlon Sprint
Germany’s success didn’t stop with Forster. Anja Wicker added to the medal count, securing a bronze medal in the women’s sprint biathlon event, also in the sitting class. The victory went to Oksana Masters of the United States, with her teammate Kendall Gretsch taking silver. Both Masters and Gretsch completed the course without any shooting errors.
Wicker, who has a malformed lower spine, overcame two shooting errors to reach the podium in her fourth Paralympic Games appearance. She previously won bronze in the individual event at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics and will have another opportunity to add to her medal tally in the upcoming individual biathlon race on Sunday. Wicker will also compete in cross-country skiing events.
Andrea Eskau, a veteran of nine Paralympic Games at age 54, finished eighth in her first race of the Games, completing the biathlon course without any shooting penalties.
Germany has sent a delegation of 40 athletes – 29 men and 11 women – to compete in five sports at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, which run from March 6th to March 15th in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. This early success, spearheaded by Forster and Wicker, provides a strong foundation for the remainder of the Games.
The Paralympics are a celebration of athletic achievement and resilience, and Anna-Lena Forster’s victory serves as a powerful example of the dedication and determination of these athletes. Her gold medal not only marks a significant moment for Germany but also inspires athletes and fans around the world.
The next opportunity for Anja Wicker to add to her medal count comes on Sunday with the individual biathlon race. Fans can follow the action and uncover official updates on the official Paralympic website.
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