Top Paralympic Winter Games moments: Austria

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games promise to deliver unforgettable moments. Up to 665 athletes from around 50 National Paralympic Committees are set to compete in six sports – Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling. 

Since the first Paralympic Winter Games in 1976, Austria have been a major powerhouse, capturing 109 gold medals and now the athletes are preparing to put on an exciting show at Milano Cortina 2026.

With less than one year to go until the 10-day spectacle, let's take a look at some of Austria's top moments from the Paralympic Winter Games.

Ornskoldsvik 1976: Austria makes stunning debut at inaugural Winter Games

The first Paralympic Winter Games featured 198 athletes from 16 countries competing in two sports: alpine skiing and cross-country skiing. West Germany topped the medals table with 10 gold, 12 silver, and six bronze medals, while Austrian athletes claimed a total of 35 medals—the most among the participating nations.

Para alpine skiers Horst Morokutti, Herbert Millendorfer, and Franz Meister led Austria’s medal haul, each earning three medals, including one gold, in the Swedish host city.

Nearly 50 years after the inaugural Games, Austria currently ranks third on the all-time Paralympic Winter Games medal table, with 109 gold, 120 silver, and 116 bronze medals.

Innsbruck 1984: Unstoppable Austrian athletes top medals table

Hosts Austria topped the medals table at the Innsbruck 1984 Paralympic Winter Games, which featured 419 Para athletes from 21 countries. The host country captured 70 medals, including 34 gold, 19 silver and 17 bronze medals.

Helmut Falch dominated Para alpine skiing’s LW1 category, sweeping four gold medals in as many events. Reinhold Wessely competed in two sports – Para cross-country and ice sledge speed skating – and took silver in both sports.

Innsbruck also hosted the Paralympic Winter Games four years later, in 1988.

PyeongChang 2018: Patrick Mayrhofer wins Austria’s first Para snowboard medal

Patrick Mayrhofer made sporting history at PyeongChang 2018, winning the country’s first medal in Para snowboard.

He took silver in the men’s banked slalom SB-UL event, finishing less than a minute behind Mike Minor of Team USA. Australia’s Simone Patmore took bronze. 

Beijing 2022: Aigner siblings dominate on the slopes

At the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, the Aigner siblings took the spotlight in Para alpine skiing. Veronika and her guide and older sister Elisabeth, along with their twin siblings Johannes and Barbara won a total of nine medals in their Paralympic debut.

Competing in front of their parents at Yangqing National Para Alpine Skiing Centre, the siblings took Austria to the top of the Para alpine medals table with four gold.

“It’s a beautiful memory, and it was a wonderful experience. Something I did not want to miss," said Johannes, who won two golds, two silvers and a bronze in the men's vision impaired category at Beijing 2022. 

“You only start realizing what you’ve achieved a week or two after the Games, because the focus is always on the next race. You don’t want to rest on your laurels, as they say so nicely. It took me some time to process it all.”

Beijing 2022: Carina Edlinger and guide dog Riley celebrate on podium

Para cross-country skier Carina Edlinger’s guide dog Riley melted hearts of Paralympic fans around the world. After winning the bronze medal in the women's middle distance free VI event at Beijing 2022, Edlinger presented a special medal to Riley on the podium. Edlinger, who also won gold in the women’s sprint free event vision impaired category, said in Beijing that she was happy to be at the Games with Riley.

“Even when you have a bad day, your dog still comes to you and wants to have a cuddle. So he is more than gold. He’s always there. If he’s not there it’s a bad day for me,” Edlinger said. “As long as I have him (it’s good). He’s my biggest fan in life.

“No one can cheer or shout so much for me. My dog needs to be there.”

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