Veronika Aigner wins first gold of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Austrian Para alpine skier Veronika Aigner has sealed victory in the women’s downhill vision impaired category, the first medal event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games 07 Mar 2026
Austria’s Veronika Aigner has continued her family’s dominance in Para alpine skiing, winning the first gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games on 7 March 2026. It was double gold for the Aigner family with brother Johannes also topping the podium.
The first of Para alpine skiing’s 30 medal events kicked off at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina, following the Opening Ceremony in Verona on 6 March.
With guide Lilly Sammer, Veronika crossed the finish line in 1:22.55 in the women’s downhill vision impaired category. Hot on Aigner’s tail was home grown hero Chiara Mazzel who claimed silver for the host nation and Slovakia’s Alexandra Rexova took the bronze.
“It was very fast; the snow was fast,” Aigner said, heaping praise on her guide Sammer for getting her down safely over the big jumps. “We made it. I’m so proud.”
Aigner was considered a race favourite in the women’s vision impaired category. She was the Overall Big Crystal Globe winner in the 2025/26 FIS Para Alpine World Cup season and hails from a family of superstar Para alpine skiers.
Her and siblings Barbara, Johannes and sister Elisabeth, who is her guide, won an epic nine medals, including four gold, at Beijing 2022.
Just a month before the Paralympics, Elisabeth injured her knee and had to miss the Games, citing the risk of falling and taking Veronika with her.
The siblings Veronika and Johannes are hoping for a mammoth 10-medal haul at Milano Cortina 2026.
“We hope this is not the only medal, we hope we make more medals. This is the beginning,” she said.
Mazzel, who was Italy’s flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony, said it was a thrill to reach the podium in front of a home crowd.
“I'm very satisfied with the race,” she said. “It’s very important because I have my family, my boyfriend (watching) and it's so cool.”
We are the Champions
Johannes Aigner flew out of the gates to claim gold in the men’s vision impaired category in 1:16.08.
“Today was a good day. We had a perfect line,” Aigner said. “The slope is in good condition.”
His guide Nico Haberl said the pair will celebrate by sitting together and having a sing-song on guitar and accordion.
Asked what song they will play first: “We are the Champions” by Queen.
Canadia's Kalle Ericsson was 2.25 second behind, taking the silver medal and Giacomo Bertagnolli delighted the Italian fans in the stands by rounding out the podium.
Paralympic debutantes Ericsson and guide Sierra Smith said they “nailed” their race strategy.
“Both me and Sierra are on top of the world right now and still pumping,” Ericsson said.
“There were a couple shaky sections but overall, I’m so proud of how we did and how we committed to giving it our all.”
Bertagnolli, who shares a strong rivalry with Aigner, was pleased to make the podium and was looking ahead to the next four races.
"I would say that it's crazy. We are not used to having such a huge crowd at the bottom (of the race) cheering for us, so I'm happy about that," he said.
Sweden’s Ebba Aarsjoe claimed victory in the women’s standing event, with silver to Aurelie Richard from France and Russia’s Varvara Voronchikhina in third.
“I am relieved, but the adrenaline is still there. I'm super happy but I was so nervous,” Aarsjoe said.
In the women’s sitting event, German legend Anna-Lena Forster went one better than her silver at Beijing 2022. She outclassed Spain’s Audrey Pascual Seco and China’s Liu Sitong in second and third places.
Switzerland’s Robin Cuche triumphed in the men’s standing event followed by France’s Arthur Bauchet and Russia’s Aleksei Bugaev.
Norway’s Jesper Pedersen, added a sixth gold medal to his vast collection, going one better than his silver at Beijing 2022 in the same event. The Netherlands' Niels de Langen and Canada’s Kurt Oatway also made the podium.
Where to watch and listen to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
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
