Closing Ceremony Celebrates 50 Years of Winter Paralympics
German dancer and performer Dergin Tokmak delivered a captivating performance during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, held at the Cortina Curling Centre.
The Games commemorated the 50th anniversary since the inaugural Winter Paralympics in Sweden in 1974, featuring a record participation of 611 athletes representing 55 nations. Competitors contested 79 medal events across six sports.
The ceremony, titled 'Italian Souvenir', was a vibrant tribute to the Games and the athletes' accomplishments, blending music, dance, and lighting effects.
International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons delivered the closing address, acknowledging the Italian public and the organising committee for their enduring legacy. He offered particular commendation to the athletes themselves.
"You rose above pressure, expectation and global tension to keep the focus where it belongs: on you and your sport," Parsons stated.
"You expanded the imagination of the world. You have shown that excellence is universal and that determination knows no boundaries.
"The Games have not only celebrated sport - they reminded us that when we focus on human potential, sport can unite and empower us in ways few other things can."
The Paralympic flag was ceremoniously handed over to the French Alps 2030 organising committee, who will host the next Winter Paralympics. Subsequently, the Paralympic flames in Milan and Cortina were extinguished.
Controversial Return of Russian Athletes Sparks Debate and Protest
The Milan-Cortina Games marked the return of Russian athletes competing under their national flag for the first time since 2014, following the International Paralympic Committee's decision to lift the country's suspension in September. The suspension had been imposed due to a state-sponsored doping scandal, with additional sanctions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Russian competitors participated in Alpine and cross-country skiing events, but their presence was met with controversy. Several nations, including Ukraine, boycotted the opening ceremony in Verona in protest.
A notable incident occurred on the medal podium when German cross-country skier Linn Kazmaier and her guide Florian Baumann turned their backs during the awarding of gold to Russia's Anastasiia Bagiian and her guide Sergei Siniakin in the women's sprint classic vision impaired event.
The Russian team, comprising six athletes, secured a total of 12 medals, including eight golds, finishing third in the overall medal standings.
Oksana Masters Extends Paralympic Legacy with Outstanding Performance
American athlete Oksana Masters further solidified her status as a Paralympic legend by winning four gold medals and one bronze at the Milan-Cortina Games, raising her career total to 24 medals. At 36 years old, she is the most decorated Winter Paralympian from the United States.
Masters excelled in cross-country skiing and biathlon, achieving her highest number of gold medals at a single Paralympics, whether summer or winter.
Born with birth defects likely caused by radiation from the Chernobyl disaster, Masters spent several years in a Ukrainian orphanage before being adopted by an American family. She underwent amputation of her left leg at age nine and her right leg at 14. Despite these challenges, she has earned accolades across Para-rowing, Para-cycling, and winter sports.
Her success in Milan-Cortina came after a challenging three weeks managing an infection and concussion prior to the Games.
"The experience has been unreal," Masters remarked.
Following the Games, Masters plans to marry fellow Para-athlete Aaron Pike in Italy and is considering participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
China Continues Paralympic Dominance with Broad Medal Success
For the fourth consecutive Paralympic Games—across both summer and winter editions—China topped the medal table, securing 44 medals: 15 gold, 13 silver, and 16 bronze, finishing ahead of the United States.
The Games set a new record with 27 National Paralympic Committees winning medals, surpassing the previous record of 25 set in Lillehammer in 1994.
China's performance marked a significant improvement from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics, where they won only one medal (wheelchair curling gold), and followed their dominant showing on home soil four years ago with 61 medals.
Chinese athletes earned medals in all six sports they entered, capturing eight of the 18 gold medals available in Para-biathlon. Jiayun Cai led a clean sweep of titles in the men's standing division.
Beyond medal achievements, the Games featured five nations making their Winter Paralympics debut, including Haiti, represented by skier Ralf Etienne, who lost his leg in the 2010 earthquake that devastated his country.
"On the first run I proved that Haiti can ski competitively," Etienne stated. "Before the race, I had won."
Host Nation Italy Achieves Best Winter Paralympic Performance
Italy, hosting the Winter Paralympics for the first time since 2006, delivered an impressive performance with 16 medals, including seven golds, marking their best Winter Games result and securing fourth place in the medal standings.
Snowboarder Emanuel Perathoner and visually impaired skier Giacomo Bertagnolli were standout performers, each winning two gold medals.
Perathoner, a two-time Olympian who overcame a serious knee injury, has become a leading figure in Para-snowboarding, dominating both his events.
Bertagnolli earned five medals from five events, becoming Italy's most decorated Para-Alpine skier.
Additional gold medals were contributed by snowboarder Jacopo Luchini and skiers Chiara Mazzel and Rene de Silvestro, contributing to a memorable Games for Italy.
Notable Performances and Highlights from Other Nations
Austria secured fifth place in the medal table, largely due to the achievements of siblings Veronika and Johannes Aigner. Both are multi-talented athletes and musicians who celebrated their success with an impromptu concert featuring guitar, accordion, and harmonica.
Veronika Aigner won four gold medals and one silver from five events, while Johannes earned three golds and a bronze.
American cross-country skier Jake Adicoff made history as the first openly gay man to win a Winter Paralympic title, achieving a clean sweep of medals in the visually impaired division.
The United States Para-ice hockey team reinforced their dominance by winning their fifth consecutive gold medal, defeating Canada 6-2 in the final match, which was the last gold medal event of the Games.
Additional information and context about the Winter Paralympics can be found in related articles exploring the event's significance, athlete experiences, and future prospects.
- What happens when at the Winter Paralympics?
- What do I need to know about the 2026 Winter Paralympics?
