Milano Cortina 2026: USA dominate Day 2 of Para cross-country skiing

Day two of Para cross-country saw dominance from the USA as they took gold in three of the six medal events at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, with Oksana Masters, Jake Adicoff and Sydney Peterson all winning their races.  

The Russian Federation won two gold medals, with athletes Anastasiia Bagaiin and Ivan Golubkov, while France’s Karl Tabouret took the last gold up for grabs. 

Masters matches Beijing 2022 gold tally 

USA’s Oksana Masters seems unstoppable at these Games, adding a third gold to her Milano Cortina 2026 medal collection in the women’s 10km interval start sitting event. This matches her gold medal tally from Beijing 2022, where she finished with gold in the Para biathlon individual and sprint sitting, and the cross-country skiing mixed 4x2.5km relay. 

"The competitor in me wants to keep pushing, (to find out) how many golds can I get from one Games,” Masters said on matching Beijing. 

“But at the same time, I am so excited to see the sport growing. Younger athletes are coming up, they’re helping me to get better.” 

Republic of Korea’s Yunji Kim took silver. The 19-year-old is also building her own medal haul, amassing one gold and two silvers so far at her first ever Paralympic Games. 

With one day of Para biathlon and two more days of cross-country action to come, we’re certain to see more stand-out performances from both Masters and Kim. 

The USA was also able to enjoy a dual podium again, with Kendall Gretsch taking the bronze behind Kim. Gretsch had to wait for the end of strong German skier Anja Wicker’s race to see if she’d placed third, and was overjoyed when the result became official. 

"I didn’t think that I was going to be able to get a cross-country medal this week, so this was really exciting. The waiting is so hard because you don’t know and it was such a tight race that you knew it would be really tight,” Gretsch said. 

France’s Tabouret bounces back 

Karl Tabouret found redemption in winning gold in the men’s classic standing, bouncing back after a disappointing elimination in the sprint on 10 March. 

"I was disappointed with the result yesterday. The sprint is my specialty and I’m a world champion there so I really wanted to give it all there and was disappointed,” Tabouret admitted. 

"Then I spoke to my team and to (teammate) Benjamin Daviet, who won the bronze yesterday (in the sprint standing), and they could more or less talk me into my best strategy to adopt for the course in today’s race. Today, I gave it all. For the team, but also for my family who have been supporting me." 

Stiff competition for Peterson and Nilsen 

In a day of especially tight races, USA’s Sydney Peterson and Norway’s Vilde Nilsen classic standing event had everyone guessing, with the final time showing only  2.7 seconds in real time separating first from second.  

USA’s Sydney Peterson came just ahead clinching her first individual gold Paralympic medal. With such strong competition, the respect between the two athletes was clear. 

"I knew it was going to take everything I had to win today. About halfway (through the race), the splits turned the other way, and Vilde started to close the gap on me.  

"She’s such a strong skier... she’s pushed me so much. She’s an amazing athlete, but more importantly she’s a very, very good person, she has amazing character and she works extremely hard. I love having the opportunity to race against her,” Peterson said of Nilsen. 

From pole break to win for Jake Adicoff 

In the men’s 10km interval start classic vision impaired event, USA’s Jake Adicoff won his second gold of the Games, with guide Reid Goble, but admits it was a difficult race. 

"It was so hard, that was the deepest slush that I think I’ve skied maybe ever. It loosens your grasp on good technique, you don’t ski as nicely. Things get a bit messier, you know it’s (like the) wild west.” 

Amidst the reporting on his spectacular two gold medals in two days, Adicoff is also being celebrated for being an openly gay Paralympian, and the representation that brings. 

“It’s so important (to have the representation). It’s just like Para sport too, it’s all about representation and showing what’s possible. It’s a very cool achievement for me and I hope that some other people can find some inspiration in it.” 

China’s ever-growing medal haul 

Continuing China’s medals grab at these Games, Zhongwu Mao took silver and Peng Zheng followed with the bronze at the men’s 10km interval start sitting event, behind Russia’s Ivan Golubkov. 

”I had a lot of expectations for a gold medal, but even though I didn’t win the gold today, I think we did a very good job,” Mao said. 

"I still have one biathlon race to compete in and will try my best to win another medal there. All the athletes here, even though they didn’t get a medal, competed very well. Everyone is a hero on their own." 

Mao has already won a silver in Para biathlon, contributing to the total 17 medals so far at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, across Para biathlon and Para cross-country skiing. 

Where to watch and listen to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games

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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.

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