The Spanish team of athletes with disabilities preparing to compete at the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo was presented at a ceremony held at the Italian Embassy in Madrid on Monday, with the backing of Education, Vocational Training and Sports Minister Milagros Tolón and Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Minister Elma Saiz, alongside the President of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes.
Five athletes representing the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation (RFEDI) comprise the national delegation for the Paralympic Winter Games. Javier Marcos, María Martín-Granizo, and Audrey Pascual will compete in alpine skiing; Emilio Redondo in snowboard; and Higinio Rivero in cross-country skiing and biathlon.
“Whether you win a medal or not, the merit of competing in the Paralympic Games will accompany you for life,” Tolón stated, expressing confidence that the Spanish athletes would experience “unforgettable emotions” in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo. “I know you will give it your all and fight to expand Spain’s medal count, which currently stands at 43. And, above all, I know you will remain true to your passion and your dreams and give your all on the Italian slopes.”
Audrey Pascual, a 21-year-traditional skier, will carry the Spanish flag at the opening ceremony on March 6th in the Arena di Verona, according to the Spanish Paralympic Committee. Pascual secured the Crystal Globe this season in giant slalom, super-G, downhill, and combined, achieving ten victories in World Cup events and establishing herself as a leading contender for a podium finish.
The alpine skiing team also includes María Martín-Granizo, who balances skiing with surfing and holds two medals from the 2025 Universiade, and Javier Marcos, who debuted in the World Cup in 2024 and has already earned three international podium finishes.
Emilio Redondo will represent Spain in snowboard, building on previous successes in the continental circuit and regularly training in La Molina, Girona. Higinio Rivero will compete in cross-country skiing and biathlon, notably also representing Spain in two Summer Paralympic Games as a canoeist.
All five athletes are first-time competitors at the Winter Games and will be supported in Italy by a team of 16, including coaches, medical staff, ski technicians, and administrative personnel, stationed at the Paralympic Villages in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Tesero.
The CSD has allocated €4,634,470.25 to the RFEDI in the last year, a 65% increase compared to 2018. Between 2018 and 2025, CSD grants to the RFEDI have exceeded €28.5 million. The Spanish government has prioritized the development of sports for people with disabilities, including equalizing prize money for Olympic and Paralympic medals. In December, the President of the Government announced the creation of the Executive Committee of Spanish Sports, an organ integrated into the structure of the CSD for strategic decision-making alongside the Spanish Olympic Committee and the Spanish Paralympic Committee.
“We desire a shared roadmap so that our sport reaches the best level in its history,” Tolón said at the event at the Italian Embassy. She emphasized that the Spanish government’s commitment to equal opportunities “is not limited to sport,” adding, “People with disabilities are a full part of our community. Guaranteeing them the same opportunities is a moral obligation. The Government and institutions have an obligation to support you with all the necessary resources, and we are doing so.”