Para skiers Johannes and Veronika keep adding to medal tally of the Aigner family at Milan Cortina

Paralympic skiing’s most successful family continues to dominate the slopes at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, with siblings Veronika and Johannes Aigner adding six more medals to their remarkable family collection.

The Austrian duo has been a force to reckon with in Para alpine skiing at the 2024 Games, bringing their family’s combined Paralympic medal count to an impressive 15 across two Winter Paralympics.

Veronika, 23, has secured two gold medals and a silver in the visually impaired discipline, while her 20-year-old brother Johannes has claimed two golds and a bronze. Their performances have been nothing short of extraordinary, accounting for all eight of Austria’s medals at the Milan Cortina Games so far.

“I’m proud of her,” Johannes said of his sister. “It’s a cool thing.”

The Aigners first gained international attention during the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, where four siblings from the family – Veronika, Johannes, Barbara, and Elisabeth – collectively won nine of Austria’s 11 medals in Para alpine skiing.

Barbara, Johannes’s twin sister, retired from racing last year, while Elisabeth, who previously served as Veronika’s guide, is absent from the Milan Cortina Games due to a knee injury. Both Veronika and Johannes were born with congenital cataracts, a condition they share with their sister Barbara and mother Petra.

In the visually impaired skiing discipline, athletes with visual impairments rely on guides who ski ahead of them, providing crucial verbal instructions through headsets or speakers attached to the guide’s back. The synchronization and trust between athlete and guide are essential for success in this demanding sport.

With Elisabeth sidelined, 27-year-old Lilly Sammer has stepped in as Veronika’s guide. While Veronika acknowledges that Sammer is “very good,” she noted the special connection that exists when skiing with a sibling.

“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,” Veronika explained.

The entire Aigner family, including parents Petra and Christian, who are passionate skiers themselves, have traveled to Cortina d’Ampezzo to support Johannes and Veronika. The family’s presence has provided emotional support for the athletes during the competition.

“I saw my family yesterday for the first time here, and my twin sisters were crying at the Austrian House,” Johannes shared. “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.”

The family’s story represents one of remarkable resilience and dedication. Irmgard, the fifth Aigner sibling, was initially Veronika’s guide before Elisabeth took over the role. Unlike their siblings, Irmgard and Elisabeth do not have visual impairments, making them ideal candidates to serve as guides.

Para alpine skiing has grown significantly in popularity and recognition over recent Paralympic cycles, with athletes like the Aigners helping to raise the profile of adaptive winter sports globally. Their success highlights the technical skill, courage, and precision required in visually impaired skiing, where competitors navigate challenging alpine courses at high speeds despite limited vision.

The Aigner siblings still have more events to compete in at the Milan Cortina Games, with opportunities to further expand their medal collection. Their continued dominance in Para alpine skiing has established them as one of the most successful sporting families in Paralympic history.

As the Winter Paralympics continue, the Aigners’ extraordinary family legacy serves as an inspiration to athletes with disabilities worldwide and showcases the power of family support in achieving athletic excellence at the highest levels.