Enlarge image
Anna Lena Forster
Photo: Christoph Soeder / dpa
The monoskier Anna-Lena Forster and the biathlete Martin Fleig carry the German flag at the opening ceremony of the 13th Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing.
The two-time Paralympic champion and the Paralympic champion in biathlon over 15 kilometers from Pyeongchang will lead the 17 athletes and the five guides at the ceremony on Friday (1 p.m. CEST; TV: ZDF) to the national stadium.
“I always have the feeling that I can still pull out a motivation because entering the stadium is just a gigantic feeling.
That's when you check: Now it's really starting," said Forster about her nomination by the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS).
DBS President Beucher spoke of a "right" choice.
Chef de Mission, Karl Quade, said: "Both are leaders in their teams, not only because of their age, but also because of their personality."
For Forster, it's the third Paralympic Games.
After her four World Championship titles in January, she is considered a German medal candidate in China.
For Fleig it is also the third games.
In Beijing he competes not only in biathlon but also in cross-country skiing.
The double run by Forster and Fleig is a premiere: for the first time a duo will lead the German team into the stadium at the Winter Paralympics.
In 2018, skier Andrea Rothfuss carried the flag.
see/sid