Carina Edlingerová Wins Paralympic Medal for Czech Republic
Biathlete Carina Edlingerová secured a medal at the Winter Paralympic Games representing the Czech Republic, a milestone achieved after a 16-year wait. The Austrian native finished second in the sprint event in Teser. Simona Drummer, another Czech visually impaired athlete, placed fourth.
Edlingerová’s Transition to Czech Representation
Twenty-seven-year-old Edlingerová began competing for the Czech Republic this season. Previously, she represented Austria, where she earned a gold medal and two bronze medals in cross-country skiing at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics [1]. She cited a lack of support from the Austrian Ski Association as the reason for her decision to switch nationalities [7]. Initially, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation denied her request in June 2025, citing insufficient proof of residency in the Czech Republic for the past two years [8]. However, she successfully obtained the necessary documentation in February 2026 [1].
Czech Para-Hockey Team Secures Victory
The Czech para-hockey team commenced their games in Milan with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Japan. They dominated in shooting, with 30 attempts on goal compared to Japan’s four. Their next opponents are Slovakia on Monday and Canada the following day.
Game Details: Czech Republic vs. Japan
Japan took an early lead in the 7th minute with a goal from Kazujoshi Niicu. The Czech team responded with goals from captain Radek Zelinka and Michal Geier in the first period. Japan equalized with a goal from Icuki Itó, but 18-year-old Lukáš Kapko scored the winning goal in the 24th minute.
Goalkeeper Patrik Sedláček expressed concern over the defensive performance, stating, “The Japanese bit a lot. They always had one player who was picked off near our blue line. The boys didn’t guard that player very much, unfortunately it turned out the way it did. As a goalkeeper, the game annoys me terribly. Four shots, two goals, it’s not a good picture for me. But of course the win is important.”
Czech Para-Hockey Aims for Medal
The Czech para-hockey team is aiming for a medal, having previously secured three bronze medals at the world championships. The top two teams from the group will advance directly to the semi-finals.