Schelle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Marte Goossen from Schelle at 15-year-old is preparing for possible selection as a Belgian Paralympic Team participant in sit-ski one year before the Italian Paralympic Winter Games start. The highest level of acrogym competition for Marte became possible until her wheelchair became necessary because of a bone disease.
Marte Goossen from Schelle, at age fifteen, trains hard to become part of the Belgian team for the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games held in Italy. Before her diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the hip at aerial gymnastics, Marte moved to Paralympic skiing after being forced to use a wheelchair because of the rare bone condition. Sit-skiing challenges have not stopped Marte from embracing the sport, as she receives guidance from her coach and the Walloon federation for G-Sport backing.
“I really like sit-skiing because you have a lot of speed,” says Marte. “I also like the adrenaline just before a competition. I had that in acrogym too, so it’s nice to experience that again. Before my illness I didn’t really ski that much, except on holiday with mum and dad. I don’t really like the cold, give me the sun,” she laughs.
Marte goes to the mountains as much as possible to train and do internships. “In the afternoon I have school. In Belgium I train 3 times a week in SnowWorld in Wilrijk. My coach is very helpful. He gives good tips and then you feel that you are getting better. The people from the sit-ski team and my friends at school also mean a lot to me.”
Although Marte proves herself to be a persevering individual, the path becomes challenging at times. “There are difficult moments. It goes with ups and downs.” Next year the Paralympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Northern Italy) cause the Schelle athlete to maintain her hope for selection. She will possess this awareness by the conclusion of this current year.
Adjustments are still being made to Marte’s sit-ski. “It is important to be properly secured in the cockpit. If you are too loose, you cannot move properly. Due to my hip disease, I cannot tolerate much pressure. We are working on further customising the sit-ski to have less pain.”
Marte wants to be an example for young people with setbacks. “I want to be there for other people who are going through something similar so that they know that they are not alone and that it is normal to have a hard time sometimes. It is also okay to talk about it. You can always find a new challenge that you like. You should not give up. Give it some time and keep your spirits up, then it will be okay again.”
The 15-year-old athlete also dreams of a future off the slopes. “I want to continue to ski well, but I think I’ll choose a different profession later. Sometimes I think about becoming a pediatrician and working with children’s hips. That way I can also share my own experiences.”
What is the background of Marte Goossen’s journey to the paralympics?
Before getting avascular necrosis of the hip diagnosis at 15-years-old, Marte Goossen was an elite acro gymnast from Schelle, Belgium, until the rare bone disease stopped blood flow, resulting in complications that left her confined to a wheelchair. Sit-skiing became her Paralympic discipline after the Walloon Federation for G-Sport backed her transition. Due to the lack of ski involvement at the Flemish level, the Walloon Federation serves as an essential entity for ski participation.
Training and coaching expenses for Marte are covered by La Ligue Handisport Francophone. Marte dedicates three times each week to training at SnowWorld in Wilrijk while maintaining regular, intense training sessions in Livigno, Italy. She persistently trains to compete at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, which will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
