Germany Finishes 11th at Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympics

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – The German Paralympic team concluded its participation in the Milan Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games with a historically low 11th-place finish in the medal standings. Despite a strong showing from monoski racer Anna-Lena Forster, who secured two gold medals, the German contingent amassed a total of 17 medals – six silver and nine bronze – falling short of their goal of a top-six placement.

The results mark the lowest finish for Germany at a Winter Paralympics, surpassing the previous low of seventh place achieved at the 1980 Games in Geilo, Norway. The team also finished seventh at the 2022 Beijing Games, continuing a downward trend that began after winning first place at the 2010 Vancouver Games, followed by second and fifth-place finishes in subsequent competitions.

China dominated the medal table with an impressive 15 gold medals and a total of 44 medals, followed by the United States with 12 gold and 23 total medals. Other nations ahead of Germany included Sweden and the Netherlands, both with three gold medals and seven medals and France, which collected four gold and 12 medals. Russia secured eight gold medals and 12 total medals.

Forster Shines in Challenging Games for Germany

Anna-Lena Forster was the clear standout performer for Germany, capturing gold in both the downhill and giant slalom events. Her success provided a bright spot in an otherwise challenging Games for the German team. According to Paralympic.org, Forster was thrilled to overcome past struggles in the giant slalom, a discipline that hadn’t traditionally been her strongest. “It’s a big golden one for me,” she said. “What we have is totally unbelievable.”

The German team’s performance was particularly disappointing considering their ambitions. The Deutsche Behindertensportverband (DBS) – the German Disability Sports Association – had aimed for a top-six finish, a target they ultimately missed. Despite this, the team’s overall medal count of 17 placed them fourth in the national rankings, a result that, while not meeting initial expectations, still represents a significant achievement.

The Games also saw strong performances from other German athletes. Andrea Rothfuss finished sixth in her final Paralympic race, while Anna-Maria Rieder and Alexander Rauen, with guide Jeremias Wilke, placed 11th. In the super-combined event, Anna-Lena Forster secured a silver medal, expressing relief after a disqualification in the super-G the previous day, as reported by DBS.

Slalom Disappointment for Forster

Despite her successes in the downhill and giant slalom, Anna-Lena Forster narrowly missed out on a slalom medal, finishing fourth by just 0.08 seconds. The result was a heartbreaking moment for the six-time Paralympic medalist, who had won gold in the slalom at the 2018 and 2022 Games. “The disappointment is big. I just slept through the first run,” Forster said, acknowledging that her competitors performed exceptionally well.

The slalom race was a nail-biter, with Forster briefly leading after the second run, only to be overtaken by Finland’s Nette Kiviranta by 16 hundredths of a second and then China’s Wenjing Zhang. The competition highlighted the incredibly tight margins at the Paralympic level and the intense pressure faced by the athletes.

Looking Ahead

While the Milan Cortina 2026 Games presented challenges for the German Paralympic team, the performance of athletes like Anna-Lena Forster offers a glimpse of potential for the future. The team’s fourth-place finish in the national medal rankings demonstrates a continued commitment to Paralympic sport and a foundation for building upon in upcoming competitions.

The German team will now turn its attention to analyzing the results of the Games and identifying areas for improvement. The focus will likely be on developing young talent and strengthening performance across a wider range of disciplines to ensure a more competitive showing at future Paralympic Winter Games.

The next major checkpoint for the German Paralympic team will be the announcement of the team roster for the next World Cup season, where they will begin preparations for the 2030 Paralympic Winter Games. Fans can stay updated on the team’s progress and upcoming events through the DBS website: https://www.dbs-npc.de/.