Anna Soens
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | July 28, 1988 |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Para-alpine skiing |
| Disability class | LW12 |
Event(s) | Downhill, Super-G, Alpine combined, Giant slalom, Slalom |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Paralympic finals | Milan/Cortina 2026 |
Anna Soens (born 28 July 1988) is a South Korean-born American para-alpine skier. She represented the United States at the 2026 Winter Paralympics.
Early life
Soens was born on 28 July 1988 in Korea and later moved to the United States. She competes for the United States in para-alpine skiing in the LW12-1 sitting classification.[1]
Before becoming a para-alpine skier, Soens was an avid rock climber and outdoors enthusiast. In 2015 she suffered a fall at an indoor climbing gym in Oregon which caused an incomplete spinal cord injury that left her paralysed below the hips.[2]
Following the accident, Soens took up adaptive skiing and began competing in para-alpine events. She later described skiing as filling the void left by climbing and allowing her to continue challenging herself athletically.[2]
Career
In 2018 she became the first paraplegic woman to summit Mount Hood, accomplishing the climb with support from friends and family including her father.[3]
Soens qualified for the United States team at the 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan–Cortina, marking her Paralympic debut. She qualified for five alpine skiing events: downhill, super-G, alpine combined, giant slalom and slalom.[4]
During the Games she competed in the women's downhill sitting event but crashed during her run and did not finish. She later recorded a fourth-place finish in the Super-G sitting race.[5]
Outside of sport, Soens works as a wildlife biologist and balances her training and competitions with a full-time career.[2]
Results
Paralympic Games
| Year | Venue | Sport | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Italy Cortina d'Ampezzo | Alpine skiing | 4th Super-G Sitting DNF Downhill Sitting |
References
- ^ "Anna Soens – Athlete details". Olympics.com. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Skiing 'filled the void' for Paralympian Soens after life-changing fall". France 24. March 7, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "Team USA Paralympian & Bend resident, Anna Soens' journey exemplifies Olympic courage". KTVZ. March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "Bend paraplegic skier qualifies for 2026 Paralympic Winter Games". Oregon Public Broadcasting. February 24, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "Team USA Paralympian & Bend resident, Anna Soens' journey exemplifies Olympic courage". KTVZ. March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.