There is one sentence that is taboo for Anna-Lena Forster: "It doesn't work." The proof of this is reflected in this year's performance by the 27-year-old monoskier from Radolfzell: she won four gold medals, first at the World Championships in Lillehammer, then two gold and two silver medals each at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

Because of this impressive collection of precious metals, the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) honored Anna-Lena Forster as para-athlete of the year on Saturday evening.

Both the jury and the majority of 7,000 fans who took part in an online vote were convinced of the winter sportswoman.

Alexander Davydov

sports editor.

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"I'm really happy!

Yes, I still don't have the award in my collection," said Forster in front of around 300 invited guests on the Düsseldorf Rheinterrasse during the award ceremony.

In the past two years, the celebration could only take place virtually because of the pandemic.

Adverse conditions in Beijing

Even if Forster presented the radiant smile of an experienced, confident top athlete in the face of the successes at her third Paralympic Games on the stage in Düsseldorf, the way to the top itself was anything but easy.

Since the end of Anna Schaffelhuber's career, seven-time Paralympics winner and five-time Para Athlete of the Year, Forster has been missing a great athlete who she could orientate herself on and who she could push forward.

At the same time, expectations of Forster increased.

The strict corona conditions under which the Winter Paralympics took place in Beijing and the breach of the Olympic Truce during the Games due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine did not make the task any easier.

But Forster withstood the pressure and the adversity: “I want to prove that somehow everything works.

And I don't let anyone slow me down.” She wants to continue her successful journey at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina.

“Cortina appeals to me simply because of the venue.

It's still a lot of fun for me.

Why should I stop?"

Marco Maier, who was named Para Athlete of the Year by the DBS, also demonstrated his assertiveness in Beijing.

The 22-year-old won two silver medals in para-cross-country skiing and in the para-biathlon race at his Paralympics debut, despite strong competition and an outsider role.

Strong offspring

The young talent award went to Linn Kazmaier.

The then 15-year-old started in Beijing as the youngest German athlete and convinced with an outstanding result: two silver medals in para-biathlon, as well as gold, silver and bronze in para-cross-country skiing.

The German Paralympics team won 19 medals in Beijing.

"Our athletes spread hope and confidence," said Friedhelm Julius Beucher, President of the DBS: "They inspire people.

Both with their fascinating achievements and with their life stories." However, the lack of funding, especially in mass sport, is still a big problem: "According to the current sports development report, only seven percent of the more than 87,000 German sports clubs have an offer for people with disabilities," said Beucher: “Seven percent is an alarmingly low number.

And how do we want to credibly promote inclusion in sport when not even every tenth sports club has such offers or can?

frustration instead of participation

A lack of barrier-free sports facilities and the insufficient supply of sports prostheses, for example, caused more frustration and not more participation, added Beucher.

This is one of the reasons why around 55 percent of people with disabilities are currently not doing any sport.

Changing the conditions is a task for society as a whole.

Beucher, who comes from Oberberg, kept his optimism firmly in view of the excellent top athletes.

"That's not possible" - remains a sentence that should not be taboo for Anna-Lena Forster, but in the entire German para-sport.