Austrian siblings rewrite Paralympic history with eight combined medals
Austria's Veronika and Johannes Aigner have made history at the Paralympics, securing a combined eight medals between them. The siblings, both competing in their second Games, were chosen to carry the flag at the closing ceremony as the country's most successful athletes.
Veronika Aigner dominated alpine skiing, winning medals in all five disciplines. She took four golds and one silver, despite facing setbacks. A torn ACL in both knees in 2021 forced her to shift focus to speed events. Just before the Games, she was reclassified into a tougher category, and her long-time guide, Elisabeth, withdrew.
Her new guide, Lilly Sammer, proved a perfect match. The pair quickly built trust, leading to double gold in the final technical races. Veronika also made history earlier as Austria's first disabled student at the ski academy in Lilienfeld and later became the country's first police officer with a disability in an administrative role.
Johannes Aigner added four medals of his own, including three golds. His only miss came in the slalom, where he finished fourth—his first time off the podium in ten Paralympic races. Together, the Aigners propelled Austria to fifth in the medal table with 13 total podiums.
Their achievements earned national recognition, featuring on Austria's flagship evening news, ZIB2.
The Aigners will now prepare for Milano Cortina 2026, where they aim to extend their Paralympic success. Their performances have already cemented their place as Austria's leading winter sports athletes. Both remain key figures in the country's push for future medals.
