Milano Cortina 2026: Ice hockey’s blockbuster, plus medals on the slopes and trails

It’s the final day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. It will be a packed day of Para sport with 11 medal events across Para ice hockey, Para alpine skiing and Para cross-country skiing. 

USA battle Canada for Para ice hockey gold 

Reigning champions USA once again face Canada in the battle for Para ice hockey gold, squaring up against their neighbours for the third consecutive Paralympic final. 

The USA are chasing a fifth straight title, while Canada aim for their first gold since Torino 2006. One of the two nations has won every gold medal since Salt Lake City 2002. 

“I want this one the most,” said Declan Farmer, three-time gold medallist and all-time Paralympic leading scorer. “It's a new group. I’m older in my career, I’ve put more of my heart into it. It's always about the next one.” 

Canada’s Tyler McGregor is equally determined.

“Gold is all we want,” he said. “This team is ready to do whatever we have to do to finish on Sunday with a gold medal around our neck.”

In the bronze medal game, China face Czechia at 12:05 CET. The gold medal match is at 16:05 CET.  

Another Para alpine medal for the Aigners?

At 09:00 CET, the first run of the vision impaired category opens the last day of Para alpine competition, which features the men’s slalom. The standing and sitting events will follow. The second runs have been postponed an hour to 13:00 CET. 

Austria’s Johannes Aigner will strive to add to his three golds and one bronze at these Games so far. 

Sister Veronika, who has already pocketed medals in her five Para alpine events, has every faith.

“Hansi is a very good skier,” she said. “He will make tomorrow also the best, and I hope for him that he gets a medal.

“I don't know what the secret is because our parents cannot ski. They can, but not well. They're only [staying] in the house on the slope, not more.”

In the standing category, France’s Arthur Bauchet also hopes to add to his medal, which stands at two golds and one silver.   

Athletes tackle gruelling Para cross-country 20km 

The final day at Tesero Cross-Country Stadium features six medal events in Para cross-country’s 20km interval start. 

The action starts with the women’s sitting category, which has so far been tightly contested. Germany’s Anja Wicker, Korea’s Yunji Kim and the USA’s Oksana Masters and Kendall Gretsch all vie to seize this last chance to add to their medal tallies. 

In the men’s vision impaired category, the USA’s Jake Adicoff seeks a cross-country clean sweep. He already has gold in the 10km interval start, the sprint classic and the mixed relay 4x2.5km. 

Brazilian fans are ready to cheer on Cristian Westemaier Ribera, Wellington da Silva and Aline dos Santos Rocha. Silver medallist Ribera is under no illusions about the challenge. 

“The 20 km race is a tough one, right?” he said. “Seven laps. But like in all the races, we will go in to do our best and get a great result.” 

He highlighted teammate Aline dos Santos Rocha as one to watch.

“Aline is a bit of a masochist. She likes suffering,” he said. “She’s also a marathoner, and tomorrow she’s going to crush it.”