Aurélie Richard and Arthur Bauchet collected the first medals for the French delegation at the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games on Saturday, both obtaining silver on the downhill, in standing skiing.
Published on: 03/07/2026 - 11:34 Modified on: 03/07/2026 - 15:26
France won its first medals during the Milan-Cortina Paralympic Games, thanks to the performances of Aurélie Richard and Arthur Bauchet, both silver during the downhill on Saturday March 7.
Aged 20 and the youngest member of the French delegation, Aurélie Richard is participating in her first Games and was one of the favorites in the standing ski category. She crossed the finish line in 1 min 23 and 71/100th, opening the French counter at the start of the day.
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“There are tears from a little bit of everything,” said Aurélie Richard in the mixed zone, her eyes moist. "I'm very happy for this first medal but also a little disappointed... but I have no regrets. And there are also tears of fear, because I had a few scares."
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She was beaten by the Swede Ebba Aarsjoe (1 min 22). The Russian Varvara Voronchikhina, who competes under her flag, obtained bronze.
Like nine other Russian and Belarusian athletes, Varvara Voronchikhina, double world champion in 2022 in Norway, received an invitation from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), respecting the vote in favor of a complete return (anthem and flag) of the two countries, issued in September 2025. A return which caused many waves on the international scene.
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"For the five gold medals"
Suffering from agenesis of the left forearm (absence of part of the limb), Aurélie Richard narrowly missed the Beijing Games four years ago, victim of a knee injury.
Her World Cup season, concluded with 14 podiums (4 victories) and above all a large crystal globe in the standing category, places her among the great French hopes in alpine para skiing.
Quadruple medalist at the Beijing Games and three-time reigning Paralympic champion – including in downhill – Arthur Bauchet failed to retain his crown a few minutes later, beaten by 61/100th by the Swiss Robin Cuche, who was also one of the favorites. The podium is once again completed by a Russian, Aleksei Bugaev.
Engaged in five races out of the five possible at Milan-Cortina, the 25-year-old Frenchman announced before the competition that he was training "for the five gold medals", even if the Grand Slam seemed difficult to achieve.
With AFP
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