Aigner Siblings Elevate Family Legacy with Paralympic Success
The Aigner family from Austria continues to dominate the Para alpine skiing scene, as siblings Johannes and Veronika Aigner have significantly increased their family's medal tally at the Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games. This week, the duo secured six medals, bringing the total to an impressive 15 medals over the last two Winter Paralympics.
Building on a Storied Paralympic History
Veronika and Johannes are representing their family in Milan Cortina, following in the footsteps of their siblings Barbara and Elisabeth, who contributed to a total of nine medals at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games. The Aigner siblings compete in the visually impaired discipline of standing ski, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
Barbara, who is Johannes' twin, retired from racing last year, while Elisabeth, previously Veronika's guide, is absent from the Milan Cortina Games due to a knee injury. Irmgard, another sibling, initially served as Veronika's guide before Elisabeth took over. Notably, Irmgard and Elisabeth are not visually impaired, highlighting the family's diverse involvement in Para skiing.
Family Support and Personal Connections
Veronika, Johannes, and Barbara were born with congenital cataracts, a condition shared by their mother Petra. The entire family, including parents Petra and Christian, who are passionate skiers, is present in Cortina d'Ampezzo to cheer on Johannes and Veronika. Johannes expressed the emotional significance of having his family nearby, stating, "I saw my family yesterday for the first time here, and my twin sisters were crying at the Austrian House. It’s a good feeling. It’s good when you see the family because we are not staying at home. We are not often together."
At just 20 years old, Johannes has already claimed two gold medals and a bronze at Milan Cortina, while 23-year-old Veronika has earned two gold medals and a silver. Johannes proudly remarked about his sister, "I’m proud of her. It’s a cool thing." Together, they have won all eight of Austria's medals so far at the Games, mirroring their family's previous success where they combined to secure nine of Austria's 11 medals in Para alpine skiing at Beijing.
Adapting to New Guides and Future Prospects
With Elisabeth sidelined by injury, Lilly Sammer has taken over as Veronika's guide. Guides ski ahead of the athlete, providing verbal instructions via headsets or speakers. Veronika acknowledged Sammer's skill, noting she is "very good," but emphasized the unique bond with a sibling guide: "When the guide is a sibling, I wouldn’t say it’s better, but you know each other since birth, you know exactly what the other needs."
As the competition continues, Veronika and Johannes have the potential to add even more medals to their family's already remarkable collection, further cementing the Aigner legacy in Paralympic sports.
