Milano Cortina 2026: The moments and the athletes that shaped the Winter Paralympics

The Winter Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 are officially over, but it delivered moments and memories that will last a lifetime for the athletes at the heart of it. It was the ultimate showcase of dreams realized, dominance, and breakthrough stars.

Whether it was the Aigner siblings, a masterclass from Masters, or the homegrown heroes of Cortina, we’ve seen true brilliance at every turn on these snow-covered mountains, moments that were a lifetime in the making.

As the curtain falls on this Paralympic cycle, we take a look back at the moments that defined these Games.

Alpine at Milano Cortina 2026: Aigner siblings, breakout stars

From the World Cup circuit to the Paralympic stage, the Aigner siblings have utterly dominated this season. After sweeping the standings across Europe, Johannes (Guide: Nico Harbel) and Veronika (Lilly Sammer/Eric Digruber) descended on Cortina with a point to prove. Both competing in the vision impaired races, they accounted for nine of Austria’s 13 medals in this discipline. Veronika topped the podium in four of five outings, collecting silver in the Super-G, while Johannes won three golds and one bronze. Austria’s other medals came from 19-year-old Elina Stary (Stefan Winter) who won two bronze and one silver, and Thomas Grochar who finished third in the Super Combined.

Just below Austria in the rankings were hosts Italy, who concluded these Games with a whole host of homegrown heroes. Chiara Mazzel (Nicola Cottini/Fabrizio Casal) medaled in all but one event, winning a memorable gold in the women’s Super-G. In the men’s races, Giacomo Bartagnolli (Andrea Ravelli) twice topped the podium, including the final race in the Slalom, while compatriot René De Silvestro won gold in the Giant Slalom. Between these three, Italy won 12 medals – six more than third-placed Netherlands in the Alpine medal table.

Crossing the finish line, emotion spilled over for all of these athletes, many of whom becoming either first-time medalists or first-time Paralympic champions. Robin Cuche (SUI) was in tears on the podium after winning gold in the men’s Downhill, a culmination of the work put in since Sochi 2014.

We also witnessed the start of greats in the making with some standout debuts. Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP) has been relentless in the World Cup, manifesting in four medals – two gold, one silver, and one bronze – in the first Games for the 21-year-old. Kalle Ericsson (CAN; Sierra Smith) was a surprise package across some of the men’s races, picking up two bronzes and a silver in his first time competing on this stage.

Of the 58 medal events at the Paralympics, 30 came in the Alpine in what has been an unforgettable 10 days of skiing.

Alpine at Milano Cortina 2026: All medal winners

*In order of gold, silver, bronze

Women’s Downhill

• VI: Veronika Aigner (AUT; guide Lilly Sammer), Chiara Mazzel (ITA; Nicola Cottini), Alexandra Rexová (SVK; Sophia Polák)

• Sitting: Anna-Lena Forster (GER), Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP), Liu Sitong (CHN)

• Standing: Ebba Årsjö (SWE), Aurélie Richard (FRA), Varvara Voronchikhina (RUS)

Women’s Super-G

• VI: Chiara Mazzel (ITA; Nicola Cottini), Veronika Aigner (AUT; Lilly Sammer), Alexandra Rexová (SVK; Sophia Polák)

• Sitting: Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP), Muraoka Momoka (JPN), Liu Sitong (CHN)

• Standing: Varvara Voronchikhina (RUS), Aurélie Richard (FRA), Ebba Årsjö (SWE)

Women’s Giant Slalom

• VI: Veronika Aigner (AUT; Eric Digruber), Chiara Mazzel (ITA; Fabrizio Casal), Elina Stary (AUT; Stefan Winter)

• Sitting: Anna-Lena Forster (GER), Muraoka Momoka (JPN), Liu Sitong (CHN)

• Standing: Ebba Årsjö (SWE), Varvara Voronchikhina (RUS), Aurélie Richard (FRA)

Women’s Slalom

• VI: Veronika Aigner (AUT; Eric Digruber), Elina Stary (AUT; Stefan Winter), Alexandra Rexová (SVK; Sophia Polák)

• Sitting: Zhang Wenjing (CHN), Nette Kiviranta (FIN), Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP)

• Standing: Varvara Voronchikhina (RUS), Zhu Wenjing (CHN), Michaela Gosselin (CAN)

Women’s Super Combined

• VI: Veronika Aigner (AUT; Lily Sammer), Chiara Mazzel (ITA; Nicola Cottini), Elina Stary (AUT; Stefan Winter)

• Sitting: Audrey Pascual Seco (ESP), Anna-Lena Forster (GER), Liu Sitong (CHN)

• Standing: Ebba Årsjö (SWE), Aurélie Richard (FRA), Zhu Wenjing (CHN)

Men’s Downhill

• VI: Johannes Aigner (AUT; Nico Haberl), Kalle Ericsson (CAN; Sierra Smith), Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA; Andrea Ravelli)

• Sitting: Jesper Pedersen (NOR), Niels de Langen (NED), Kurt Oatway (CAN)

• Standing: Robin Cuche (SUI), Arthur Bauchet (FRA), Alexey Bugaev (RUS)

Men’s Super-G

• VI: Johannes Aigner (AUT; Nico Haberl), Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA; Andrea Ravelli), Kalle Ericsson (CAN; Sierra Smith)

• Sitting: Jeroen Kampschreur (NED), Jesper Pedersen (NOR), Andrew Kurka (USA)

• Standing: Robin Cuche (SUI), Patrick Halgren (USA), Jules Sagers (FRA)

Giant Slalom

• VI: Johannes Aigner (AUT; Nico Haberl), Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA; Andrea Ravelli), Michał Gołaş (POL; Kacper Walas)

• Sitting: René De Silvestro (ITA), Niels de Langen (NED), Jesper Pedersen (NOR)

• Standing: Arthur Bauchet (FRA), Robin Cuche (SUI), Alexey Bugaev (RUS)

Men’s Slalom

• VI: Giacomo Bertagnolli (Andrea Ravelli), Michał Gołaş (POL; Kacper Walas), Kalle Ericsson (Sierra Smith)

• Sitting: Jeroen Kampschreur (NED), Jesper Pedersen (NOR), Takeshi Suzuki (JPN)

• Standing: Alexey Bugaev (RUS), Adam Hall (NZL), Robin Cuche (SUI)

Men’s Super Combined

• VI: Giacomo Bertagnolli (ITA; Andrea Ravelli), Neil Simpson (GBR; Rob Poth), Johannes Aigner (AUT; Nico Haberl)

• Sitting: Jeroen Kampschreur (NED), René De Silvestro (ITA), Niels de Langen (NED)

• Standing: Arthur Bauchet (FRA), Federico Pelizzari (ITA), Thomas Grochar (AUT)

Snowboard at Milano Cortina 2026: Homegrown history, veterans prevail

Emanuel Perathoner (ITA) had the special honor of becoming one of the few athletes to compete at the Olympics and Paralympics, etching his name in history with a golden outing in both the Snowboard Cross and Banked Slalom. It was the 39-year-old’s Paralympic Games debut, and it doesn’t get much better than gold-medal winning race in Cortina, mere miles from his hometown. Compatriot Jacopo Luchini (ITA) also prevailed in SB-UL, earning top honors in Banked Slalom.

It was a Games that centered athletes on opposite ends of their careers. On one side, there’s Kate Delson (USA), who had a remarkable breakout season across 2025/26 to win the overall globe. At her debut Games, the 20-year-old stormed to gold in the Banked Slalom while picking up silver in the Cross. She was pipped to that title by 51-year-old Cécile Hernandez, who demonstrated her impressive longevity, successfully defending her title from Beijing.

One of the most special moments from Cortina came from Mike Schultz (USA) who, four years on from almost retiring, won bronze in the SB-LL1 Banked Slalom. His career is beyond just the podiums, though. Inspired to get back to being active in sports he loved following a knee amputation, he built his own prosthetic that went beyond just the everyday. At these Games, he competed alongside many athletes who have benefited from his creations – a truly full-circle moment for the 44-year-old.

Snowboard at Milano Cortina 2026: All medal winners

*In order of gold, silver, bronze

Women’s Banked Slalom

• SB-LL2: Kate Delson (USA), Lisa Bunschoten (NED), Brenna Huckaby (USA)

Women’s Snowboard Cross

• SB-LL2: Cécile Hernandez (FRA), Kate Delson (USA), Wang Xinyu (CHN)

Men’s Banked Slalom

• SB-LL1: Noah Elliot (USA), Daichi Oguri (JPN), Mike Schultz (USA)

• SB-LL2: Emanuel Perathoner (ITA), Fabrice von Grünigen (SUI), Ben Tudhope (AUS)

• SB-UL: Jacopo Luchini (ITA), Wang Pengyao (CHN), Jiang Zihao (CHN)

Men’s Snowboard Cross

• SB-LL1: Wu Zhongwei (CHN), Noah Elliot (USA), Tyler Turner (CAN)

• SB-LL2: Emanuel Perathoner (ITA), Ben Tudhope (AUS), Lee Je-hyuk (KOR)

• SB-UL: Ji Lijia (CHN), Zhu Yonggang (CHN), Aron Fahrni (SUI)

Cross-Country at Milano Cortina 2026: Dominance and depth

Oksana Masters’s (USA) legacy has never been in doubt. At Milano Cortina, she simply reminded the world of why she is synonymous with the Games. She claimed a staggering 20th Winter Paralympic medal in the first event of the Biathlon, tallying up her haul in the Cross-Country with three golds and a bronze, one of which coming in the team event. It was part of a U.S. success story on the snow, which also involved two gold medals for Sydney Peterson and a clean sweep for Jake Adicoff (Guide: Reid Goble/Peter Wolter), who was one of two athletes to top the podium in all three races in this discipline. The second was Anastasiia Bagiian (RUS; Sergei Siniakin).

Challenging Masters for every stride was teenage sensation Kim Yunji (KOR), who at 19 competed in her debut Games. She won five medals in total across the Biathlon and the Cross-Country, becoming the first South Korean woman to win a title at any Winter Paralympics in the individual event. Speaking of firsts, Cristian Westemaier Ribera’s (BRA) silver medal in the men’s sprint saw him become the first Brazilian in history to win a medal of any kind at the Winter Games.

As well as Adicoff, on the men’s side of this discipline it was all about China. They were arguably the most consistent nation, culminating in a China 1-2-3 in the final race of this showpiece, the men’s 20km Standing. In the mixed relay, they won bronze while in the open relay, they won gold. It is a testament to not only their depth, dominating across several categories, but their longevity to do it in consecutive Paralympic cycles.

Cross-Country at Milano Cortina 2026: All medal winners

*In order of gold, silver, bronze

Women’s Sprint Classic

• VI: Anastasiia Bagiian (RUS; guide Sergei Siniakin), Linn Kazmaier (GER; Florian Baumann), Cong Jihong (CHN; Liu Jiaxuan)

• Sitting: Oksana Masters (USA), Kim Yunji (KOR), Wang Shiyu (CHN)

• Standing: Vilde Nilsen (NOR), Sydney Petersen (USA), Natalie Wilkie (CAN)

Women’s 10km Classic

• VI: Anastasiia Bagiian (RUS; guide Sergei Siniakin), Simona Bubeníčková (CZE; David Šrůtek), Leonie Maria Walter (GER; Christian Krasman)

• Sitting: Oksana Masters (USA), Kim Yunji (KOR), Kendall Gretsch (USA)

• Standing: Sydney Peterson (USA), Vilde Nilsen (NOR), Brittany Hudak (CAN)

Women’s 20km freestyle

• VI: Anastasiia Bagiian (RUS; guide Sergei Siniakin), Simona Bubeníčková (CZE; David Šrůtek), Wang Yue (CHN; Chen Guoming)

• Sitting: Kim Yunji (KOR), Anja Wicker (GER), Oksana Masters (USA)

• Standing: Sydney Peterson (USA), Vilde Nilsen (NOR), Oleksandra Kononova (UKR)

Men’s Sprint Classic

• VI: Jake Adicoff (USA; Peter Wolter), Yu Shuang (CHN; Shang Jincai), Zebastian Modin (SWE; Emil Talsi)

• Sitting: Liu Zixu (CHN), Cristian Westemaier Ribera (BRA), Yerbol Khamitov (KAZ)

• Standing: Raman Svirydzenka (BLR), Sebastian Marburger (GER), Benjamin Daviet (FRA)

Men’s 10km Classic

• VI: Jake Adicoff (USA; Reid Goble), Inkki Inola (FIN; Reetu Inkilä), Zebastian Modin (SWE; Emil Talsi)

• Sitting: Ivan Golubkov (RUS), Mao Zhongwu (CHN), Zheng Peng (CHN)

• Standing: Karl Tabouret (FRA), Raman Svirydzenka (BLR), Mark Arendz (CAN)

Men’s 20km Freestyle

• VI: Jake Adicoff (USA; Peter Wolter), Oleksandr Kazik (UKR; Serhii Kucheriavyi), Anthony Chalençon (FRA; Florian Michelon)

• Sitting: Ivan Golubkov (RUS), Mao Zhongwu (CHN), Giuseppe Romele (ITA)

• Standing: Wang Chenyang (CHN), Huang Lingxin (CHN), Liu Xiaobin (CHN)

Mixed 4x2.5km Relay

1. United States: Joshua Sweeney, Oksana Masters, Sydney Peterson, Jake Adicoff (Reid Goble)

2. Ukraine: Pavlo Bal, Taras Rad, Oleksandra Kononova, Liudmyla Liashenko

3. China: Mao Zhongwu, Zheng Peng, Huang Lingxin, Wang Yue (Chen Guoming)

Open 4x2.5km Relay

1. China: Wang Tao, Wang Chenyang, Dang Hesong (Lu Hongda), Yu Shuang (Shang Jincai)

2. Germany: Sebastian Marburger, Marco Maier, Theo Bold (Jakob Bold), Linn Kazmaier (Florian Baumann)

3. Norway: Kjartan Haugen, Vilde Nilsen, Thomas Oxaal (Geir Lervik)