First gold for Germany – Forster cries twice
Gold! Unbridled joy at Anna-Lena Forster
Source: dpa/Christoph Soeder
The German team wins its first gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics. Anna-Lena Forster was actually hopelessly behind in the super combination. “I never would have thought that,” she cheers at the finish.
Mith a furious second run, monoskier Anna-Lena Forster won Germany’s first gold at the Paralympics in Beijing. Despite being six seconds behind after the Super-G, the 26-year-old from Radolfzell still won the Super-Combined, just like in Pyeongchang in 2018.
After the final slalom, she had a 0.77 second lead over Momoka Muraoka. The Japanese won the first two disciplines in China ahead of Forster. Forster is also the favorite in the slalom on the final day on Sunday.
In the slalom, Forster caught up the big deficit
Source: dpa/Christoph Soeder
“Incredible, crazy. It was really a rollercoaster ride of emotions,” said Forster: “I know that I’m good at slalom, but I never thought that I could catch up six seconds.” After the run in the morning she was “very depressed”: “It’s so emotional to win gold after all.” After both runs, Forster shed tears: first out of frustration, then overwhelmed with happiness.
Noemi Ristau falls and has to be hospitalized
The day was more disappointing for the other German starters. Anna-Maria Rieder from Murnau took fourth place in the standing class. “I’m a little sad. Fourth place is always a bit of the loser place. If I had attacked more, it could have worked,” she said.
Andrea Rothfuss (Mitteltal-Obertal) in the same class and Noemi Ristau from Marburg in the visually impaired class were eliminated in the first round. “Fortunately, Noemi hasn’t done anything serious,” said Paula Brenzel, who accompanied Ristau on the piste: “She’s already had an X-ray. Her shoulder and hand are a bit affected, but she’s fine.” Leander Kress from Friedberg took 17th place among 36 starters in the standing class.
