Germany at the 2018 Winter Paralympics

Sports contested and team composition

German athletes took part in para-alpine skiing, para-Nordic skiing and wheelchair curling. Each sport demands different equipment, classifications and training approaches, reflecting the Paralympic emphasis on fair competition across varying impairments.

• Para-alpine skiing – downhill and technical events adapted for standing, sitting and visually impaired competitors.
• Para-Nordic skiing – cross-country and biathlon events that test endurance and marksmanship across categories.
• Wheelchair curling – a mixed-gender team sport similar to Olympic curling but played from a stationary delivery position.

Selection for the German team followed national qualification procedures and international quota places; coaches balanced medal prospects with opportunities for development.

Qualification developments and missed opportunities

Germany also pursued qualification for sledge hockey (para ice hockey) but ultimately did not secure a spot. The sledge hockey team was required to advance through specific qualification tournaments; because the necessary results were not achieved, that squad did not travel to Pyeongchang.

Controversies and international context

Germany's sports officials publicly expressed dissatisfaction when athletes from Russia were permitted to compete under certain conditions at the Games. That reaction reflected wider international debate about eligibility and the legacy of doping sanctions affecting national teams.

Notable participants and legacy

A prominent member of the German delegation was veteran para-Nordic skier Andrea Eskau, who attended her sixth Paralympic Games in 2018, underscoring a long career at the highest level of adaptive winter and summer sport. Germany's presence in Pyeongchang continued the country's broader commitment to Paralympic sport, contributing to athlete development, public visibility for adaptive athletics, and ongoing conversations about classification, fairness and support for para-athletes.