Milano Cortina 2026: Sweden’s Modin targets gold in Para cross-country

 After two exciting days of Para biathlon competition at the Tereso Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, Para cross-country takes a turn. Many athletes compete in both sports, but the first day of cross-country will feature some fresh faces, including home contender Giuseppe Romele, who has won six World Cup sitting races this winter. 

There are four days of Para cross-country competition, on 10-11 March and 14-15 March. Para cross-country skiing is a mainstay of the Paralympic Winter Games, having been included in all editions since Ornskoldsvik 1976. 

China dominated at Beijing 2022, with 18 medals, including seven golds. Canada claimed 10 medals, of which five were gold. 

Para athletes compete in standing, sitting or vision impaired categories. At Milano Cortina 2026, they will ski with the classic technique for the middle-distance and sprint events, and the free technique for long distances.

Five stories to follow...  

From sand to snow: El Salvador debuts 

David Chavez and Jonathan Arias make history for El Salvador as the country’s first athletes at a Winter Games, either Paralympic or Olympic. 

“Representing El Salvador and being the first Paralympic Winter Games athlete fills me with pride,” said Chavez.  

Chavez and Arias received a Competition Support Grant from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), part of the Sport for Mobility programme. This allowed them to compete at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship 2025 in Trondheim, securing their all-important qualifying spot for Milano Cortina 2026.

“It’s important because with that support, I managed to qualify for the Paralympic Games and with that support, we can qualify for many competitions,” he said.   

Given the climate in El Salvador, both athletes are more accustomed to sand than snow.  Arias especially has mostly trained by skiing on sand, and found the experience at Trondheim very different. 

“I have less than 100 days practicing on snow,” he said.  

Is it Zebastian Modin’s turn to top the podium?  

With the retirement of Canada’s 16-time gold medallist Brian McKeever, is it finally the turn of Swedish rival Zebastian Modin to take top spot in the vision-impaired category?  

Modin has stood below McKeever on the podium seven times from Vancouver 2010 to Beijing 2022. At his eighth consecutive Paralympic Games, veteran Modin can finally see opportunity knocking.  

"(McKeever) was always an obvious favourite," Modin said. "So, it definitely means something that he’s not competing." 

McKeever has moved into coaching and will support the 12 Canadians competing in cross-country, including Mark Arendz and Natalie Wilkie, who have already claimed medals in Para biathlon at Milano Cortina 2026. 

Modin is also conscious of the stiff competition from other quarters, namechecking US and Chinese skiers. 

"Jake Adicoff has had the best average results this winter," he said. "Then I’d say Yu Shuang is the biggest name."

Can USA women add to their medal haul?  

The USA’s Oksana Masters will aim to stockpile another medal after taking gold in Para Biathlon, her 15th Winter Paralympic gold in total. At Beijing 2022 she took home three cross-country silver medals in the individual sitting category. 

Despite collecting 20 Paralympic medals in total across her career, from both summer and winter Games, Masters says each medal remains special. 

“Every single medal is just as important because it has a different journey and path to getting it and achieving it,” she said.    

Oksana has a friendly competition with compatriot Kendall Gretsch, who has taken silver and bronze medals, in sprint and individual sitting respectfully, in Para biathlon at Milano Cortina 2026. 

“It’s always so exciting to be on a podium with your teammate,” Gretsch said. “Oksana and I have been training together for years now. We spend a lot of time together. Every single race that I’m racing with Oksana, I know it makes me a better athlete and pushes me harder.” 

Italy’s Romele aims to impress home crowd  

Giuseppe Romele represents one of Italy’s best chances of a Para cross-country medal in Val di Fiemme.   

Competing in the sitting class, he claimed middle distance bronze at Beijing 2022, and in 2025/26 secured the overall Para cross-country skiing world cup title. Romele also competed in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in triathlon.  

The 34-year-old from Lombardy has won six World Cup races this season. The growing crowds at the Tereso Cross-Country Skiing Stadium would surely appreciate a first Italian medal at the venue in these Games. 

The chase for Brazil’s first winter Paralympic medal

Cristian Westemaier Ribera is chasing Brazil’s first winter Paralympic Games medal. The cross-country skier competed at Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 but goes into Milano Cortina 2026 in form after winning gold at the 2025 World Cup on the same course in Val di Fiemme.  

"I was very happy with that achievement last year,” he said.   

“I won’t lie, I was a bit anxious about competing at the same venue where the biggest competition of my life will take place. I really wanted my moment to win to come, and it did. I was very happy and now I feel much more confident.”  

Ribera was introduced to Para Nordic skiing in 2015 as part of a Brazilian Snow Sports Federation (CBDN) project, with the support of the IPC’s development arm.  

The project’s aim was to have a Brazilian athlete contending for a medal at the 2030 Paralympic Winter Games, but with Ribera progressing quickly, that goal could be accomplished far sooner. 

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

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