Milano Cortina 2026: Ones to watch in Para biathlon

Combining the endurance of Para cross-country skiing with the accuracy of target shooting, Para biathlon promises to serve up thrilling performances at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.  

There will be up to 180 Para athletes competing in a total of 18 medal events at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme. The sport has been on the Winter Paralympic programme since Innsbruck 1988 held in Austria. 

Here are 10 Para biathlon athletes to watch when the competition opens on 7 March. 

Anja Wicker (Germany)  

Anja Wicker is headed to her fourth Paralympics. After winning a gold and silver medal in the women’s sitting category at Sochi 2014 and a bronze in Beijing four years ago, Wicker is on the hunt for more victory in Italy. 

Kendall Gretsch (USA) 

Dual winter and summer athlete Kendall Gretsch is a golden girl across Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing and Para triathlon. With a total of four Paralympic gold medals, two silvers and a bronze in her trophy cabinet already, Gretsch is prepared to defend her Para biathlon title in the middle distance sitting race at her fifth Games. 

Natalie Wilkie (Canada) 

Natalie Wilkie burst onto the Paralympic stage as a teen sensation at PyeongChang 2018.  During the 2025-26 Para biathlon World Cup circuit, Wilkie claimed six epic victories and earned the coveted Crystal Globe. She has three gold medals from a total of seven podium finishes in Para cross-country skiing and will be looking for her first in Para biathlon. 

Oleksandra Kononova (Ukraine) 

Powerhouse Ukrainian Para biathlon and Para cross-country skier Oleksandra Kononova has shown tremendous grit, winning five gold out of a total of nine podium finishes since Vancouver 2010. At Beijing 2022, her silver medal was part of a Ukrainian clean sweep in the women’s middle distance standing.  

Leonie Maria Walter (Germany) 

Leonie Maria Walter caused a major upset in the middle distance race at Beijing 2022, won gold in the women’s VI category. The 22-year-old hopes the momentum can continue at her second Winter Paralympics.  

Oleksandr Kazik (Ukraine) 

Oleksandr Kazik’s gold medal in the men’s individual VI event in Beijing was a memorable part of Ukraine’s best-ever performance in Para biathlon at a Paralympic Winter Games, where the country earned eight gold, nine silver and five bronze medals. The defending champion hopes to deliver more victories at his third Winter Games.  

Yerbol Khamitov (Kazakhstan) 

Kazakhstan’s Yerbol Khamitov is in hot form after winning the Para biathlon 2025 World Cup crystal globe. At his second Games, Khamitov hopes to add to his country’s small collection of three Winter Paralympic medals and become the fourth person from his nation to make a Paralympic podium.  

Aaron Pike (USA) 

Seven-time Paralympian Aaron Pike hopes Milano Cortina 2026 will bring him luck and a long-awaited podium finish. In 2023, he won his first world title at the 2023 FIS Para Nordic Skiing World Championships in Östersund, Sweden and took out a sprint title last year at  Pokljuka, Slovenia. The dual summer and winter athlete has long competed in Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing and Para athletics events including the marathon. 

Mark Arendz (Canada) 

Mark Arendz is headed to his fifth Paralympic Winter Games. He has already got 12 medals for Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing in the bag, including two gold. In January, he was crowned Crystal Globe champion for the season overall titles at the Para biathlon World Cup Final. 

Anthony Chalencon (France)  

Anthony Chalencon, who competes in the men’s vision impaired category, had a strong 2024-25 Para biathlon World Cup season which included winning the World Cup Finals in Torsby, Sweden, in March last year. He won bronze in Para biathlon at PyeongChang 2018 and also has a gold medal in the Para cross-country’s 4x2.5 Open Relay.  At Beijing 2022 he netted the silver medal in the Para cross-country relay event.  

Discover more about Para biathlon and other sports on the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic programme

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org