Impairment Information |
Type of Impairment |
Limb deficiency |
Origin of Impairment |
Congenital |
Classification |
LW12-1 |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Freiburg, GER |
Occupation |
Athlete, Customs Officer |
Languages |
English, French, German, Italian |
Higher education |
Psychology - Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg: Germany |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began skiing at age six with VdK Munchen in Germany. |
Why this sport? |
Her parents and her brother are passionate skiers, and they encouraged her to take up the sport. "When I was born my parents weren't so sure whether the tradition of a ski holiday was still possible. It was a coincidence that my hometown of Singen had an event where Para sports were presented. Among other things, we found monoskiing. I was relatively young, but the ski instructor said we should wait a few more years until I could fit the ski. Then my parents measured me every year. We tried it out when I was age six, with quite a bit of cushion in the seat shell. But at least it worked so far that I could drive. For the next four years, I took a ski course every year. Until the trainer said, 'You don't even have to look any further, I think you have talent'. From then on, I was part of the youth team." |
Club / Team |
BRSV Radolfzell: Germany |
Name of coach |
Justus Wolf [national], GER |
Senior International Debut |
Year |
2012 |
Competing for |
Germany |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Leni, Lenchen (skiteam-alpin.org, 03 Dec 2012) |
Hobbies |
Trampolining, climbing, swimming. (faz.net, 07 Mar 2022) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning two gold medals at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (anna-lena-forster.de, 01 Jan 2020) |
Most influential person in career |
Her parents. (sportschau.de, 23 Mar 2021) |
Hero / Idol |
German Para alpine skier Anna Schaffelhuber. (faz.net, 07 Mar 2022) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"At my first ski courses I often cried because I felt very cold or my leg hurt. The older I got, the more aware I became of what I love about skiing: freedom. The freedom to be out in nature and ski like everyone else. The freedom you feel when you stand on a mountain and you can look over everything." (paralympic.org, 14 Jan 2021) |
Awards and honours |
She and biathlete Martin Fleig were flag bearers for Germany at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (IPC Entries, 04 Mar 2022)
In 2014 and 2016 she was named Sportswoman of the Year by the Baden Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association [BBS] in Germany. (suedkurier.de, 07 Dec 2016)
In 2014 she received the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt [Silver Laurel Leaf] in Germany. (bundespraesident.de, 05 May 2014)
In 2013 she received a gold medal in recognition of her sporting achievements from the town of Radolfzell in Germany. (wochenblatt.net, 17 Apr 2013) |
Ambitions |
To win gold medals at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (paralympic.org, 22 Jan 2022) |
Impairment |
She was born without her right leg and missing bones in her left leg. "My parents never stopped me. They let me try everything. Able-bodied children are also allowed to fall down and gain experience of what works and what doesn't. This is an important way of life." (badische-zeitung.de, 11 Mar 2017; suedkurier.de, 10 Mar 2010) |
Other information |
MENTAL STRENGTH She was disappointed with her results at the 2015 World Championships, and began working with a psychologist after the tournament to help her deal with nerves. She saw the benefits at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, where she overcame a difficult start to end up going home with two gold medals. "Going to see a psychologist] helped a lot. I realised I needed to stay positive and trust my abilities. The 2018 Paralympic Winter Games didn't start well for me. I crashed in the downhill and then in the super-G I finished fourth. That was not the plan. It affected my confidence and I was very stressed. Others had medals, and I'd lost. But then I spoke to family and friends, and they were a big influence. My family got me going again. That's where the positivity came in. They told me I could do it and they cheered me up. They made me strong and got me believing. I began thinking, 'You can do it' ahead of the other events." (paralympic.org, 09 Jan 2019) |