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Maria Martin-Granizo, para-alpine skier and para-surfer from Spain, who is currently studying nutrition at the International University of La Rioja, Logroño.

On Day 6 of the FISU World University Games, Saturday, 18 January, emotions ran high for Germany’s para-alpine skier Luisa Grube, who competed in the final race of her career, the Torino 2025 giant slalom.

With her guide Jordi Maurer by her side, the visually-impaired athlete gave it her all and claimed a silver medal in a heartfelt farewell to the sport that has shaped her life. Grube revealed that challenges in finding a guide led to her decision to retire from competitive skiing, allowing her to shift her focus to para-climbing, another sport that holds a special place in her heart.

Guide Jordi Maurer and para-alpine skier Luisa Grube.

Luisa Grube’s story reflects a broader trend in para-sports: the growing number of female athletes who excel in multiple disciplines. This year, three of the competitors in Saturday’s giant slalom were actively pursuing two high-level sports, showcasing their versatility and determination to push boundaries beyond a single discipline.

Among these remarkable women is Maria Martin-Granizo, an 18-year-old para-alpine skier and para-surfer from Spain, who is currently studying nutrition at the International University of La Rioja, Logroño. Speaking after the race, she expressed her joy at participating in her first FISU Games.

“The snow on the track was good, and all I wanted to do was to just have fun because this is my first time at the University Games. My priority was to ski well too, to make my coach proud of me,” said Maria Martin-Granizo.

Balancing skiing and surfing stems from her deep love for sports, and her ability to manage both with grace is an inspiration to athletes worldwide.

Another Spanish trailblazer is Audrey Pascual Seco from the University of Granada. She competed in the sitting category of the giant slalom. Like Maria, Audrey also combines para-alpine skiing with surfing. Reflecting on her experience, she emphasized the importance of mental resilience in juggling multiple sports. “Being a para-athlete is expensive—from equipment to training—but if you really want it, you have to try and give it your best,” the digital journalism student shared. Despite challenging winds during her race, she remained positive, saying, “I loved the experience and had a good descent down the slope.”

While these women may not have taken home the gold medal, their dedication to exploring and excelling in multiple disciplines is nothing short of extraordinary. Their passion, perseverance, and commitment are a beacon of inspiration for para-athletes around the globe, proving that limitations exist only to be overcome.

Home crowning : Italy’s Vozza triumphs

In a spectacular display of skill and teamwork, Martina Vozza of Italy, guided by Ylenia Sabidussi, clinched the women’s gold medal in the vision impaired category.

The student from Pegaso Telematic University in Napoli delivered a phenomenal time of 1:11.15, leaving her closest competitor, Germany’s Grube, trailing by 16.36 seconds. Croatia’s Karla Kordic, accompanied by Andrea Jezidzic, secured the bronze with a time of 2:00.07.

Meanwhile, in the standing class, France’s Aurélie Richard claimed the top spot with a swift 1:12.32, followed by Spain’s Martin-Granizo, who earned silver 8.10 seconds behind. Austria’s Laura Streng rounded out the podium, taking bronze with a time of 1:31.96.

In the sitting division, Finland’s Nette Kiviranta emerged victorious, clocking an impressive 1:13.92, narrowly outpacing Spain’s Pascual Seco, who finished in 1:15.37, just 1.45 seconds behind.

French hat-trick in men’s standing

On the men’s side, the highlight of the day came in the standing class, with France achieving a stunning triple podium. Arthur Bauchet from Université Grenoble Alpes led the charge with a remarkable 2:02.78, followed by teammates Jules Segers (2:09.61) and Oscar Burnham (2:10.96).

100% French podium with Oscar Burnham (silver), Arthur Bauchet (gold) and Jules Segers (bronze).

Michal Golas of Poland, guided by Kacper Walas, claimed vision impaired gold with an impressive time of 2:13.63. Germany’s Alexander Rauen, guided by Jeremias Wilke, finished 9.99 seconds behind.

In the sitting category, Slovenia’s Jernej Slivnik clinched gold with a stellar time of 2:24.01, narrowly edging out Chile’s Nicolas Bisquertt Hudson (2:24.12), who crossed the line just 0.11 seconds behind. Germany’s Leon Elias Gensert secured bronze (2:31.58).

The giant slalom races marked the end of para-alpine skiing action at Torino 2025.

The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv. Click on the link to find the full schedule.

Written by Esther Owusua Appiah-Fei, FISU Young Reporter, Ghana.

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.

We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.

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