Milano Cortina 2026: Top moments from Day 5
China win inaugural wheelchair curling gold in mixed doubles Latvia take bronze in nail-biting win over USA USA dominate with three wins in Para cross-country 11 Mar 2026
We bring you the triumphs, the upsets and the top stories from the snow and ice at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Here are our top moments from Day 5 (11 March).
China win wheelchair curling mixed doubles
China won the first ever Paralympic gold medals in wheelchair curling mixed doubles, beating Republic of Korea 9-7 at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
China’s Jinqiao Yang and Meng Wang celebrated a tenacious contest.
"Both of us were fighting hard on the court. The first half went well, but after they caught up in the second half, I did feel a bit nervous – right up until the final moment,” Wang said.
Yang said the pair never let down their guard, despite being 7-3 ahead with only two ends left.
“I only dared think about it [the gold medal] once I knew I had won it,” he said.
For Yongsuk Lee and Hyejin Baek of Republic of Korea, competing in their first major tournament, winning silver was a dreamlike achievement.
"It doesn't feel real, but I see that something is hanging on my neck, so I can feel it now,” Lee said.
"I did not imagine that [gaining a silver], obviously. However, we came here with the goal to be the champion. We said every time: ‘Let's go through the play-offs, and then let's go to the semifinal, let's go to the final’. Step by step, we've reached where we are today. We're very happy."
Nerve-jangling wheelchair curling bronze
The wheelchair curling mixed doubles bronze medal game between Latvia’s Polina Rozkova and Agris Lasmans, and USA’s Laura Dwyer and Stephen Emt was also closely fought, ending in a riveting extra end and an 11-10 win for Latvia.
"Team USA showed a really good performance,” Rozkova said. “And we said, 'No, no, we are not ready to give up'. We knew that we will take the power play and we did it really good."
“Every game was our mini-final. If we lost, then we lost everything."
"We put so much work in, not only this last year or the last three years; it's 10 years-plus of work.
"The secret is that we are just one unit. He [Lasmans] is calm, and I am the opposite. So I have some thoughts and I can take the decision. He is calm and he can realise my thoughts."
USA dominate Para cross-country
Three gold medals from six events made 11 March a bumper day for USA at Tesero Cross-Country Stadium.
The USA’s most successful Paralympian, Oksana Masters, kickstarted the gold rush with a win in the 10km interval start sitting. Masters has now matched her Beijing 2022 tally of three golds. And she will have three more chances to improve on it across Para biathlon and Para cross-country.
"The competitor in me wants to keep pushing, [to find out] how many golds can I get from one Games,” Masters said.
She topped the podium alongside compatriot Kendall Gretsch, who took bronze, and the Republic of Korea’s Yunji Kim, who claimed silver.
Jake Adicoff took another US gold in the 10km interval start classic VI, his second gold of the Games, conquering the conditions as well as the field.
"It was so hard, that was the deepest slush I think I’ve skied maybe ever, he said. “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,” Adicoff said.
Compatriot Sydney Peterson triumphed in a tight race with Norway’s Vilde Nilsen in the women’s 10km interval start classic standing.
"I knew it was going to take everything I had to win today,” Petersen said. “About halfway (through the race), the splits turned the other way, and Vilde started to close the gap on me.”
Gold cheers up Games debutant Tabouret
Paralympic debutant Karl Tabouret claimed his first medal of Milano Cortina 2026. The Frenchman won gold in the 10km interval start classic standing. The win followed elimination in the semifinals of the sprint, the event Tabouret won at the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships 2025.
“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 said. “Today, I gave it all. For the team, but also for my family who have been supporting me."
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
