dutch para-athlete barbara van bergen falls short in milan downhill
Milaan, zaterdag, 7 maart 2026.
Barbara van Bergen did not finish her women’s downhill run at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina. The Dutch para-athlete missed a gate during the sitting-category race on Saturday. At 47, she competed in her fifth Paralympics amidst a record field of 160 women. This marks the fourth straight Games with rising female participation. Van Bergen previously won silver and gold at World Championships in downhill. Her focus shifts to upcoming events in super-G, alpine combined, and giant slalom. The Games celebrate 50 years of Paralympic winter sports.
dutch para-athlete barbara van bergen falls short in milan downhill
Barbara van Bergen did not finish her women’s downhill run at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina. The Dutch para-athlete missed a gate during the sitting-category race on Saturday, resulting in a DNF (Did Not Finish) outcome [3]. At 47, she competed in her fifth Paralympics amidst a record field of 160 women [2]. This marks the fourth straight Games with rising female participation [2]. The event took place at Olympia delle Tofane, featuring a vertical drop of 635 meters over a 2105-meter course [3].
historical context and competitive landscape
Van Bergen’s previous performances included a silver medal at the 2022 Lillehammer World Championships and gold in Espot in 2023, both in downhill sitting [4]. Despite these successes, she failed to finish the downhill event at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics [4]. The 2026 edition saw para alpine skiing leading women’s participation with 57 competitors, surpassing previous records [2]. The International Paralympic Committee highlighted this growth as evidence of expanded opportunities for female Paralympians [2].
path forward for van bergen
Following the downhill setback, Van Bergen remains eligible for three upcoming events: super-G on March 9, alpine combined on March 10, and giant slalom on March 12 [5]. These disciplines align with her historical strengths, particularly in technical runs where she achieved top finishes in past World Cups [4]. The Netherlands continues its representation in para alpine skiing, with expectations centered on improved execution in subsequent races. The full schedule for Van Bergen’s events is publicly available through the official Paralympic platform [5].
broader significance of the 2026 winter paralympics
The 2026 Winter Paralympics mark the 50th anniversary of the Paralympic winter games, beginning in 1976 with fewer than 200 athletes [2]. This year’s edition includes 616 athletes from 56 nations competing across 79 medal events [2]. Female participation has grown significantly, increasing by 24 athletes compared to the Beijing 2022 Games [2]. Five sports recorded peak female involvement, led by para alpine skiing, signaling progress toward gender equity in adaptive winter sports [2].