The sisters Veronika and Barbara Aigner and their guides celebrated a double victory in the slalom of the visually impaired ski racers in Yanqing. In addition, cross-country skier Carina Edlinger won bronze in the middle distance after gold in the sprint.
For Veronika Aigner from Lower Austria, after her triumph in the giant slalom, it was her second gold medal at these games, each time won with her sister Elisabeth Aigner as guide. “I wouldn’t be called Aigner if I gave up. I fought my way through and still tried to enjoy the run,” said Veronika Aigner, who was struggling with knee pain. For sister Barbara Aigner and guide Klara Sykora it was the second medal after RTL bronze. “Today is super cool,” said the youngest Aigner sister at 16. Carinthian Elina Stary (guide Celine Arthofer) was sixth.
The Aigner family has already won eight medals in China, as Barbara’s twin brother Johannes won the giant slalom and the downhill with guide Matteo Fleischmann, as well as silver in the combination and bronze in the super-G.
Edlinger from Salzburg pushed her physical limits for her second medal with guide Lorenz Lampl in Zhangjiakou. “It was cruel today, but the worst would have been if I had finished fourth again,” said the 23-year-old. “I’m incredibly grateful that after the ups and downs of the past few days, it was still a medal. It all ends well, but now I’m just glad it’s over.” The dog Riley was a valuable support during her stay in China. “I’m used to him being the big hero and me being number two.”
The Paralympic Winter Games conclude with the men’s slalom on Sunday. Johannes Aigner could be the first Austrian skier to win medals in all disciplines. He will then lead Austria’s team to the Vogelnest Stadium in Beijing as the flag bearer at the closing ceremony. “It’s a huge honor and the perfect conclusion to these already incredible games, just very, very cool,” said the 16-year-old, who already knows what will happen to him after his return to Austria: “Next week I have to back to school, I’m not the Paralympics winner, I’m Hansi again.”
Source: Nachrichten
