Tesero, Italy – The Paralympic Winter Games in Italy saw a day of contrasting fortunes for the German team, with Kathrin Marchand forced to withdraw from a medal-contending race and Anja Wicker narrowly missing out on a podium finish in para cross-country skiing. The events unfolded on Monday, March 11, 2026, adding to the drama of the ongoing competition.
Marchand, making history as the first athlete to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Summer and Winter Games, experienced a setback during the 10-kilometer classic race. After a fourth-place finish in the sprint the previous day, the 35-year-old was positioned to challenge for a bronze medal when she abruptly stopped alongside the course, requiring assistance from support staff to leave the track. The cause was a sudden onset of weakness, bringing a premature end to her race.
Marchand’s journey to the Paralympics is remarkable. She transitioned to cross-country skiing just 14 months ago after years as a rower, quickly qualifying for the Games in her second winter season. Her athletic path has been significantly impacted by a stroke at age 30, resulting in vision loss in both eyes and limited mobility on her left side. These challenges add to the complexity of competing at the highest level, impacting multitasking and spatial awareness.
Prior to Marchand’s unfortunate withdrawal, Anja Wicker came incredibly close to securing a medal for Germany. In the women’s 10-kilometer classic sprint, Wicker finished fourth, just 1.5 seconds behind the American Oksana Masters, who claimed her twelfth Paralympic gold medal. South Korea’s Kim Yunji secured silver, followed by Kendall Gretsch of the United States.
“It was so close. Probably a blink of an eye,” Wicker said after the race, reflecting on the narrow margin. “I have no complaints about my race. But at the Paralympics, 1.5 seconds to the podium really stings. I gave it everything I had and I’m satisfied with my race. It was fun to run and I was able to push beyond my limits.”
Wicker’s near-miss follows a successful weekend in biathlon, where she added a bronze and a silver medal to her Paralympic tally, bringing her career total to five medals across three Games. Her resilience and determination continue to be a source of inspiration.
The German team’s performance at the 2026 Winter Paralympics continues to unfold in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. As of March 11, Germany has secured 10 medals: one gold, four silver, and five bronze, with 40 athletes competing across five sports. Anna-Lena Forster and Jörg Wedde served as flag bearers for the German delegation at the opening ceremony.
While Marchand’s race ended prematurely, and Wicker’s medal hopes were dashed by a fraction of a second, both athletes demonstrated the spirit of the Paralympics – perseverance, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The competition continues, with opportunities for further success for the German team.
Germany’s Anna-Lena Forster did secure a gold medal in the women’s downhill, sitting, on March 7th. She also added a silver in the women’s super combined, sitting, on March 10th. Sebastian Marburger secured a silver medal in the men’s sprint classical, standing, on March 10th, and Linn Kazmaier, guided by Florian Baumann, also claimed silver in the women’s sprint classical, visually impaired, on the same day.
The next few days promise more action as athletes compete for glory in various disciplines. Keep up with the latest updates from the 2026 Winter Paralympics as the competition progresses.
