A new "dual career" project, due to come into operation tomorrow, is designed to help them focus more on sports in the build-up to the Pyeongchang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

It was created by the Federal Ministry of the Interior as well as by the Federal Defense and Federal Ministry of Finance in conjunction with Paralympic bodies.

"This new model, which is modelled on Olympic sport, provides the opportunity to focus more on sports while improving financial security, without neglecting athlete’s professional lives,” said German National Paralympic Committee President Friedhelm Julius Beucher.

“This is a remarkable signal, also in the sense of the appreciation of the top achievements of people with disabilities.”

Those selected include Alpine skiers Anna Lena Forster, Andrea Rothfuss and Anna Schaffelhuber.

Long jumper Markus Rehm, a gold medal winner at London 2012 and Rio 2016, is one of four track of field athletes involved, along with Johannes Floors, Irmgard Bensusan and Felix Streng.

Others include table tennis player Thomas Schmidberger, swimmers Denise Grahl and Maike Naomi Schnittger, canoeist Tom Kierey, triathlete Martin Schulz, cyclists Christiane Reppe, Denise Schindler and Steffen Zeibig and dressage rider Steffen Zeibig.

Each will be set "defined milestones" for both work and training.

"I've been around for many years, but the progress of the recent past is already great,” said Rothfuss, who won three Alpine medals at Sochi 2014 including a standing slalom silver.

“The new funding brings more financial security, allows me to purchase some additional material, and I plan a bicycle trip in the summer to improve my condition.

“The current situation with the better support and the great friendliness of my employer is great for me with a view to the Games."