Two-time Paralympic champion Audrey Pascual Seco wins 29th Matteo Baumgarten Award

Spanish student and athlete Audrey Pascal Seco is the 29th recipient of the annual Baumgarten Award. The international recognition is in honor of the late Matteo Baumgarten, who was a promising skier and brilliant student.

The prestigious award was established by his parents as a way of commemorating their son and recognizing young athletes who embody Matteo’s dedication to both academics and sport.

In winning this accolade, Audrey joins a long list of distinguished past recipients, including last year’s victor Zrinka Ljutić (CRO).

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the 21-year-old, who made her Paralympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 earlier this year. She earned a four-medal haul in Alpine sit-skiing – a gold in the Super-G and the Super-Combined, a silver in Downhill, and a bronze in Slalom.

Audrey’s emphatic form on the biggest stage of all came just a month after rounding out her best-ever season, coming second in the overall World Cup standings, topping all but one – Slalom – individual events across the 2025/26 campaign.

When she isn’t on the slopes, the two-time Paralympic champion is completing her studies at the University of Granada, where she is currently enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The city holds a special place in her heart, learning to ski at Sierra Nevada when she was younger. Her commitment to sport is undeniable, taking to the waves to surf in the months where she can’t ski.

“My mother has always let me do what I want,” the rising star told Sur. “I know I can fall, but I’ll get up anyway. Thanks to that freedom, I’m very independent.”

FIS extends its congratulations to Audrey and gives thanks to all nominees and NSAs who participated in this year’s selection process.