The CPE brings together “a team for the future that has given good results” in Milan-Cortina 2026

The Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE) brought together this Tuesday at the headquarters of the Higher Sports Council (CSD) the eight athletes of its delegation at the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, a “team for the future that has given good results” with four medals – two golds, one silver and one bronze – achieved by the skier Audrey Pascual.

The event held in the Samaranch auditorium of the CSD was attended by the institutional presence of the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón, and the president of the CSD, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes. A fact that the president of the CPE, Alberto Durán, celebrated due to the importance of having that support. “Paralympic sport also needs support for integration such as education, health…”, he stated.

“I have discovered that this is very complicated, that for these phenomena to be in the Games it is very important to have that support. And we have to have sponsors like the ones we have, which are spectacular. Winter sports are very complicated, a lot of materials are needed and they are not close to home,” Durán added, about his first Games in office.

In addition, he wanted to thank the athletes for having given “their maximum” and for overcoming “their nerves and fears.” “They were very afraid of not complying, but they have done great. These athletes are very important, they are paving the way for other people. They are giving many people reasons to leave home,” he acknowledged.

“There is only one sport. I already thought so, but I believed it when I heard Uribes say it. This team was for the future, it was designed for 2030, but in 2026 it has already given good results. There is a lot of future because it is a very young team. Hopefully in the Alps we will have a larger team,” he stated.

For his part, the president of the Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation (RFEDI), José Mª (May) Peus España, was “very proud” of the role of the Spanish team. “We had a challenge ahead of us: to welcome the Paralympic family into the federation. And we are enjoying great results,” he indicated because they have “met expectations with the most natural integration.”

Representatives of the sponsors were present at the event and asked the eight athletes a question. Audrey Pascual confessed that “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to handle so much nerves.” “They have been incredible Games. The credit belongs to everyone,” he said while insisting that “now it’s time to celebrate and return to normal life” with studies.

While María Martín-Granizo was asked about the famous phrase that is repeated before each start ‘either podium or stretcher’. “It’s a comment that athletes like, although doctors don’t,” he joked. “It is something that drives us to give everything at the start as we have seen, because we have been competitive. It is clear that Audrey and Javi Marcos followed it to the letter,” he stressed.

Precisely, Javier Marcos, who suffered a hard fall in the test on Friday, stated that he would like society to see them “as athletes because this is sport.” “We prepare the same, the training is the same. Disabilities are forgotten there,” he said.

“I like to do three sports to give visibility, that we don’t have to stay at home standing still,” encouraged veteran Higinio Rivero. While Emilio Redondo reflected that his participation in these Games is a demonstration for himself “to see where he could go.”