Czech Paralympic Biathlete Carina Edlingerová Secures Historic Gold
Val di Fiemme, Italy – Carina Edlingerová, competing for the Czech Republic, has won gold in the women’s sprint at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, marking the first-ever Paralympic medal for Czech biathlon in 32 years. Edlingerová, along with her guide, Alexandr Paťava, finished ahead of the competition on Friday, March 13, 2026.
A Triumphant Return for Czech Biathlon
The victory is particularly significant as it represents the Czech Republic’s return to Paralympic biathlon after a 32-year absence. Paťava expressed his excitement, stating, “Český biatlon při svém návratu na paralympiádu po 32 letech sbírá medaile, to je neskutečné!” (Czech biathlon is collecting medals on its return to the Paralympics after 32 years, that’s unbelievable!).
Overcoming Obstacles to Victory
Edlingerová’s path to gold wasn’t without challenges. Despite three shooting errors in the final race, she maintained her composure and strong skiing performance. “Now it doesn’t really matter how many mistakes I made, but three is of course too many. After those two mistakes on the first shot, I mainly told myself that I had to stay calm and ski well,” Edlingerová explained. Paťava highlighted her incredible running performance, noting they were able to enjoy the final meters of the race together.
From Austria to the Czech Republic
Edlingerová’s journey to Paralympic success likewise involved a significant personal transition. After disagreements with the Austrian biathlon federation, she sought refuge and opportunity in the Czech Republic. She faced further hurdles as the ski federation initially prevented her from competing under the Czech flag. “Of course, I was extremely angry. I was the most successful cross-country skier and suddenly I couldn’t ride, it was really painful,” she recounted. However, the International Biathlon Federation (IBU) ultimately approved her participation.
A Dual-Sport Champion
This gold medal adds to Edlingerová’s impressive Paralympic record. She previously won a gold medal in the 10km cross-country skiing race for Austria at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received, stating, “No one chooses where they are born or if they will have problems… It’s about sport and I’m very happy that most people treat me like Carina and don’t deal with other things.”
Czech Paralympic Team Excels
Edlingerová’s victory is part of a strong performance by the Czech team at the 2026 Winter Paralympics. The Czech expedition includes a record 24 athletes competing in para hockey, para biathlon, alpine skiing, and cross-country skiing. Simona Bubeníčková also secured a bronze medal in the same event.
Looking Ahead
Edlingerová, now a two-time Paralympic champion in two different sports, remains open to future possibilities. Whereas she hopes to return to cross-country skiing, she acknowledges her newfound passion for biathlon, playfully declaring, “I probably have to consider myself a biathlete as well.”