Milano Cortina 2026: Markus Salcher prepares for "last dance"

For seven-time Paralympic medallist Markus Salcher, Para alpine skiing has been a part of his life for nearly as long as he has been alive.

The 34-year-old Austrian, who was born with the right side of his body paralysed, made his first foray on the slopes aged just three, spurred on by his parents' shared passion for alpine skiing.

Ahead of what he says will be his final Paralympic Winter Games, the two-time gold medallist took time out to chat about his goals for Milano Cortina 2026, reflect on his decorated career, and discuss his efforts to change perceptions about Para sport and athletes.

“Skiing is the passion of both my mum and dad. I started when I was three years old,” Salcher said, casting his mind back to where it all began for him.

“It wasn't a question of if I would ski but how I would ski!” he exclaimed.

“My dad, who was the ski coach of the local team in our region, decided to give me only one pole. The first time at the ski club there were questions about why I only had one stick and why I was slower than the others. But overall, it was about skiing, for me it was fun, and I had freedom.”

Road to Milano Cortina 2026

Now more than three decades on from his first steps onto the slope, Salcher is approaching his fifth Paralympic Winter Games having already reached the pinnacle of Para alpine skiing as a champion in both super-G and downhill.

“There is a big difference between the Europa Cup and the World Cup, and the Paralympic Games," he said recalling his debut at the Vancouver 2010 Games in Canada at the age of just 18.

“At the Paralympic Winter Games there is the media, the visitors, it is so different. In Vancouver, I wasn't focussed on the race, I was more of a tourist going around the Paralympic Village and visiting everything there.”

“Vancouver, though, was the concrete for my success in Sochi in 2014.”

“Perfect” 17 days

Despite going into Sochi 2014 in good form, Salcher was far from being hotly touted for success back in his homeland.
"I knew from the season before that I was in good shape for downhill, so that was my focus,” adding he was able to prepare without feeling pressure from the media. 

Salcher's laser-like focus and meticulous preparation away from the spotlight paid off as he skied to victory in a dramatically close contest in the men’s downhill standing event to clinch the gold medal.

“I won by six hundredths of a second,” he said returning to the moment of glory.

The following day, he completed a dream double by winning gold in the super-G.

“It was so easy for me as I didn't have any expectations because I had already reached my goal,” he said. 

The Carinthian athlete rounded off what he remembers as a “perfect” 17 days by claiming a bronze medal on the last day of the Games in the giant slalom.

The Paralympic Winter Games experience

While Salcher may have been viewed as something of a breakout star by the Austria media for his incredible exploits on the slopes at Sochi 2014, it was a different story altogether for him four years later at PyeongChang 2018.

“My mindset was not good going into PyeongChang. The media told me that somehow, I was the favourite for the gold medal.

“If you hear that again and again, you start to believe it.

“When I look back, I was pretty lucky that I won two bronze medals, because they were tight races. I wanted to achieve gold for sure, but at this time I could not.”

With the experience of three Games under his belt and five medals to show for his efforts, and now wiser to the pressures associated with elite sport, Salcher secured a further two medals in Beijing in 2022, in what proved to be an emotional experience.

“My coach organised training camps which I needed to improve. We skied with super-G and downhill skis, which is important for me with my impairment.

“I won two golds at the World Championships in Haifa in January and felt totally settled going into the Games in March.

“I won two silver medals in Beijing. After I won the second silver, in Super-G, my coach came to the finish area. The Games was his last competition as a coach; he hugged me and said it was the best race he had ever seen from me. It was pretty emotional.”

He added: “I still have the race on my laptop, and indeed it was one of the best and cleanest ski races I have ever done.”

Fifth Paralympics

Salcher’s passion and dedication to para sport and the people at the heart of it, extends well beyond the boundaries of the ski slopes. 

“In society, Para sports are not well known, and we have to find a way to communicate what people with disabilities are able to achieve,” he said.

“My goal is that people in Europe will learn that Paralympic sport is elite sport and it involves the same amount of training for us to achieve our goals as it does for athletes without disabilities.”

As he competes at Milano Cortina 2026 with a career that has yielded seven medals and span 16 years across three continents, one question remains, what goals does he have left to achieve?

“The Games in Milano will be special,” he says with an air of excitement.

“It is three and a half hours by car from my hometown, so I expect my friends, and family will visit the Games and cheer me on, and also the media from Austria.

“It will be my last Games, the last dance!”

He added: “In downhill it is possible for me to be successful, but on the day, everything has to be perfect.

“For sure, though, I want to win a medal - that is the dream!”

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org