Andorra's Roger Puig Eyes World Cup Podium After Paralympic Fifth

Roger Puig, Andorra's top para-alpine skier, has set his sights on a World Cup podium after securing the country's best-ever Paralympic result—a fifth-place finish and Olympic diploma—at his third Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The 28-year-old athlete described this as his strongest season yet, rebounding from tougher years with consistent high-level performances. In downhill, he matched his pre-Games form, where he had notched two fourths and a fifth on the World Cup circuit, to claim fifth place. "I went without specific expectations, just aiming to enjoy the experience and ski well," Puig said, noting he had entered on the back of one of his best seasons. He added that while he hoped for a "little diploma," achieving one at the Paralympics—where athletes stake everything on single runs—carries extreme difficulty.

Puig competes against the world's elite, including Swiss standout Robin Cuche and French skier Arthur Bauchet, who dominate speed events. "They've peaked earlier than the rest, but it's not impossible to catch them," he said. "I see progress every year and know I'll challenge them soon."

His breakout follows a split from the Andorran Ski Federation (FAE), which he credits partly for his comfort. Now managing decisions with his own team, free from the federation's sporting and financial oversight, Puig feels more at ease. Experience in speed disciplines—gleaned over years—has also sharpened his edge on varying snow and equipment.

Fourteen years ago, at age 14, a skiing accident at Saas-Fee station left him with right-side hemiplegia, stripping motor function from that side of his body. He has fully adapted. "It's been 14 years of this new life; I don't remember the old one," he said. Early frustration has given way to normalization, propelling him to para-alpine's top tier.

Looking ahead, Puig plans to push for self-improvement and that elusive World Cup podium. "Top-five is great, but you always aim higher," he said. "I haven't hit my ceiling." Training resumes soon, with eyes on next season's World Championships in Tignes, where he excelled this year.

Beyond skiing, Puig balances elite competition with a legal career. A qualified lawyer in Andorra and Barcelona, he works to stay sharp for a post-sport future and to disconnect from training. He married on March 28, capping a year of personal and professional highs.

He praised Andorra's sporting surge, citing Joan Verdú, Vicky Jiménez, Irineu Esteve, Gina del Rio, Mònica Doria and Nahuel Carabaña as evidence of growing investment yielding talent. Emotionally stable this season, Puig relied on experience rather than a sports psychologist.