DAILY COUNTDOWN 9 – Alpine and Cross-Country events draw the curtain on Milano Cortina

Sunday (March 15) is the final day of action from the Winter Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, with the final races in FIS disciplines.

It will be a packed morning at Tesero Cross-Country, with the men’s and women’s 20km interval start. In the afternoon, skiers will take on the second run of the men’s Slalom in the last races of the day.

Read on for a full breakdown of day nine, where nine sets of medals will be won.

Medal Events Day 9 – Sunday, March 15

Here is the full medal schedule for the ninth and final day:

Alpine

• 12:00 CET: Men’s Slalom – vision impaired run 2 – results

• Followed by: Men’s Slalom – standing run 2 – results

• Followed by: Men’s Slalom – sitting run 2 – results

The first run of the men’s Slalom will take place in the morning, beginning at 09:00 CET.

Cross-Country

• 09:00 CET: Women’s 20km Interval Start – sitting – results

• 09:15 CET: Men’s 20km Interval Start – sitting – results

• 10:20 CET: Women’s 20km Interval Start Free – standing – results

• 10:30 CET: Men’s 20km Interval Start Free – standing – results

• 11:45 CET: Women’s 20km Interval Start Free – vision impaired – results

• 11:55 CET: Men’s 20km Interval Start Free – vision impaired – results

Across the Games, a total of 58 Paralympic medal events will take place in ski and snowboard disciplines. 30 of those are in Alpine, 20 of which come in Cross-Country, and the remaining eight unfold in Snowboard.

• Click here for the full Winter Paralympic schedule

Athletes & Storylines to Watch

Alpine: Men’s Slalom

Johannes Aigner (AUT), guided by Nico Haberl, has been a force to be reckoned with in Cortina. The 20-year-old swept the standings in the recent World Cup season and has translated that form seamlessly onto this stage. Just as he did four years ago, Aigner has medaled in every event he has contested so far, taking home three golds. After topping the podium in the GS, he will no doubt be the favorite to repeat that feat in the Slalom. Homegrown hero Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA) – guided by Andrea Ravelli – has been right there alongside Aigner in men’s VI, winning gold in the Super Combined while achieving podium finishes across the board. He comes into this race as the defending champion, aiming to end what has been a spectacular home Games on the ultimate high. Despite the dominance of this pair, you cannot discount Michał Gołaś (POL) – guided by Kacper Walas – pulling off a remarkable feat. The second-best performer in Slalom across 2025/26, the 21-year-old is well-positioned to collect the second medal of his debut Games after winning bronze in Giant Slalom.

In men’s Sitting, the field of Paralympic gold medals here in Cortina has seen quite the variety. Great rivals Jesper Pedersen (NOR) and Jeroen Kampschreur (NED) have battled it out at almost every turn, though the highlight thus far has come from homegrown René De Silvestro (ITA) who clinched his first-ever Paralympic title with a blistering two-run victory in the Giant Slalom. Niels de Langen (NED) has also been at the heart of the action in these races, twice winning silver and once bronze, as the 27-year-old continues to chase a maiden gold.

We’ve seen a similarly varied field within men’s Standing, though the top spot has been exclusively shared by Robin Cuche (SUI) and Arthur Bauchet (FRA). The latter laid down a statement victory in the Giant Slalom, as the Frenchman gears up to defending his Slalom title from Beijing four years ago. In different circumstances, Aaron Lindström (SWE) would have made a worthy threat to the throne, having been the best-performing skier in this race across 2025/26, but a heavy crash in the Super-G abruptly ended his Games. Adam Hall (NZL) ranked within the World Cup top three and, as the bronze medalist from Beijing, will no doubt have his sights set on upgrading that this time around.

Cross-Country: 20km Interval Start Free

Athletes are set for a real test of endurance in Tesero, as they contest the first-ever women’s 20km race. Prior to Milano Cortina, the longest distance women competed in was 15km. In women’s Sitting, it has been a masterclass display from Oksana Masters (USA) who has dominated in two disciplines at these Games. She clinched gold at both times of asking in the sprint classic and 10km classic, though was closely contested by teenage sensation Kim Yunji (KOR), who finished second on both occasions. After winning gold in the biathlon, the 19-year-old will be seeking a maiden Cross-Country title.

In women’s Standing, it has been a great battle for the center podium spot between Vilde Nilsen (NOR) and Sydney Peterson (USA), the pair finishing as the top two in both races so far. Nilsen took gold in the sprint event while Peterson sealed the title in the 10km. Their closest competitors on each occasion have come in the form of Canadians. Natalie Wilkie (CAN) won bronze in the sprint race and compatriot Brittany Hudak (CAN) achieved the same feat in the middle-distance outing. The latter trio shared the podium in the furthest distance at Beijing – the 15km – though Nilsen has topped the rankings in the World Cup this term, making for a finely poised final race in Tesero.

In women’s Sitting, Anastasiia Bagiian (RUS; guide Sergei Siniakin) has been the one constant at the top of the podium, while second and third has changed around her. German duo Linn Kazmaier (GER; Florian Baumann) and Leonie Maria Walter (GER; Christian Krasman) have been in the mix, along with 17-year-old Simona Bubeníčková (CZE; David Srutek) and Cong Jihong (CHN; Liu Jiaxuan). Kazmaier topped the World Cup standings this season and is searching for a maiden Paralympic gold in this discipline.

It has been true U.S. dominance in this discipline, with Jake Adicoff (USA; guide Peter Wolter) winning gold in both men’s VI races so far. The 30-year-old has had to bide his time for a first Paralympic title but now faces the possibility of ending these Games with three. Zebastian Modin (SWE; Emil Talsi) has clinched bronze in both races. Having topped the World Cup standings this season, the 31-year-old is no doubt aiming to end his Games with a first gold medal. This pair were on the podium in the 20km four years ago, Adicoff coming second and Modin in third. Yu Shuang (CHN; guide Shang Jincai) and Inkki Inola (FIN; guide Reetu Inkilä) have both won Paralympic hardware in Tesero and will no doubt be formidable opposition in the final race.

In men’s Sitting, there has not been the same skier on the podium for both races, which is a testament to the competitiveness of this sport. China have been the most consistent nation, with the trio of Liu Zixu, Mao Zhongwu, and Zheng Peng all present for the medal ceremonies across the sprint and 10km. It has been a complete flip of the World Cup rankings from 2025/26, with only two skiers inside the top 20 getting a look in the medals so far. Yerbol Khamitov (KAZ) won bronze in the sprint while Cristian Westemaier Ribera (BRA) won Brazil’s first-ever Winter Paralympic medal in the same race.  At the top of those standings is Giuseppe Romele (ITA), who will be looking to end his home Games with Paralympic hardware after narrowly missing out on the sprint podium.

In men’s Standing, Raman Svirydzenka (BLR) has been the only repeat name on the podium. He won silver in the 10km, but the highlight for the 21-year-old was his gold in the sprint. It was a remarkable feat for the young skier, at his debut Games and on the back of his best season yet where he finished 17^th in the overall standings. France have had plenty of interest with duo Benjamin Daviet and Karl Tabouret, while Mark Arendz (CAN) and Sebastian Marburger (GER) make up the medal winners so far. Serafym Drahun (UKR) topped the World Cup standings, with the 20km his last chance to turn that form into Paralympic success in Tesero after his best season to date.

Through My Eyes | A Special Letter

I Love Snow is a campaign that shines a light beyond results and podiums, focusing on the personal journeys that lead athletes to the Paralympic stage. In Through My Eyes | A Special Letter, selected competitors share their reflections on preparation, pressure and what it truly means to compete at these Games.

Today’s feature, available to watch below, comes from Danielle Aravich (USA), whose mental fortitude has taken her from moments of doubt to self-recognition as one of the best.

I Love Snow

“I LOVE Snow – Passion Beyond Limits” brings fans closer to the athletes and stories that power snow sports across every FIS discipline – Olympic and Paralympic alike. The promise: authentic and emotional storytelling that turns moments into lasting fandom beyond Milano Cortina 2026.