Yanqing (AP) – Monoskier Anna-Lena Forster has won the first German medal at the Paralympics in Beijing.
The 26-year-old finished second in the downhill on Saturday and secured silver on the Yanqing slope. The German flag bearer of the opening ceremony needed 0.82 seconds more than Momoka Muraoka from Japan. The Chinese Sitong Liu came in third. The other four starters did not finish. “I’m really happy,” said Forster. “I’m relieved.”
It was a successful start for the athlete from Radolfzell, who is completely missing her right leg. Your best disciplines with the slalom and the combination will follow in the coming days. “The medal gives me momentum,” explained the German.
Andrea Rothfuss, on the other hand, was unlucky. The 32-year-old finished fourth in her fifth Paralympics in the standing class, narrowly missing out on bronze. Gold went to Mollie Jepsen from Canada. “Four tenths to third place isn’t much. It also hurts a little bit. But actually I’m super happy. A medal would have overtaxed my luck,” said Rothfuss.