Milano Cortina 2026: German Para alpine skier Anna-Lena Forster conquers giant slalom

German Para alpine skier Anna-Lena Forster unexpectedly triumphed in the women’s giant slalom sitting race on Day 6 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, a discipline that has not traditionally been one of her pet events.

The feat builds on the first gold she won for Germany in the downhill and a silver in the alpine combined event.

Forster said she was thrilled to shake the monkey off her back.

“It’s a big golden one for me,” she said.

“This is totally unbelievable. I really have struggled with the giant slalom over the past two years. The fact I made it to this podium here today is just crazy. It's been a tough journey. I guess I've finally worked out how this giant slalom thing works.”

Forster’s unexpected gold

After the medal ceremony, she was surrounded by a group of German fans including small children who wanted selfies with her. Forster flagged low-key celebrations ahead of her final race day - the slalom on 14 March.

“I’m happy for today and very proud of myself,” she said. 

“I have one more race so I can’t give everything to celebrating.” 

Forster finished the 2024-25 season with three crystal globes including the overall title. In the 2025-2026 season, she won 10 World Cup races. 

Born without a right leg and with a shortened thigh in her left leg, Forster has been a dominate force in her category. She has won six gold, five silver and a bronze since she made her Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014. 

Forster finished the giant slalom ahead of Japan’s Momoka Muraoka and China’s Sitong Liu at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre.  

Muraoka, who has been nicknamed the “Queen of Winter”, has been grappling with injury woes after fracturing her collarbone in November last year. 

“Unfortunately, today, I didn't perform to the level of that name,” she said of her nickname.

Another of Forster’s key rivals, Spain’s Audrey Pascual Seco crashed out in the first run. Pascual Seco is a double gold medalist in these Games with victories in the super-G and the alpine combined events and a silver in the downhill.

“She’s just so strong, she developed so fast in the last years,” Forster said.

Aarsjoe wins third gold in Italy

Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe  continued her gold rush in the women’s standing event. She has topped the podium three times in Cortina and has also won a bronze in the super-G.

“I'm so, so happy, but so tired. It was a hard one, the second run,” she said.

Russia’s Varvara Voronchikhina clinched silver and France’s Aurelie Richard placed third. 

Aigner continues to dominate

The women’s vision impaired category saw Austria's Veronika Aigner snatch her third gold medal of the Games. She also has a silver medal.

Aigner edged out Italy’s home grown hero Chiara Mazzel and shared the podium with fellow Austrian Elina Stary.

Her and brother Johannes, who competes in the men’s vision impaired category, are potentially on track to reach their goal of 10 medals.

At Beijing 2022, the Aigner siblings - Veronika, Barbara, Elisabeth and Johannes - won a total of nine medals, including four golds. With two more events remaining, Johannes has so far won two golds and a bronze at Milano Cortina 2026.

Aigner has been celebrating her success with the sound of music in the Paralympic Village with her brother.

“(Johannes) brought a harmonica and a guitar with him... I play a little bit of guitar,” she said, but was modest about her musical skill set.

Her favourite song to play is "Stand By Me” because it’s easy. 

Para alpine skiing action continues on 13 March with the men’s giant slalom events.