Milano Cortina 2026: Ones to watch in Para cross-country skiing

Stamina and determination will be on display over four days of action-packed Para cross-country skiing competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Para cross-country skiing races have been part of the Paralympic Winter Games since the inaugural Games in 1976.

At Milano Cortina 2026, champions will be crowned in 20 medal events.

Here are 10 Para cross-country skiers to watch when the Games open on 6 March.

Simona Bubenickova (Czechia)

Simona Bubenickova has been in electric form over the 2025-2026 World Cup season, earning eight victories in the women’s vision impaired category. The 17-year-old athlete promises to create excitement on her Paralympic debut.

Leonie Maria Walter (Germany)

Leonie Maria Walter finished atop the overall World Cup standings in the 2024-2025 season. She also earned four World Cup victories in Canmore, Canada, in December 2025. At Beijing 2022, she won a bronze medal in Para cross-country skiing and also two bronze and a gold in Para biathlon.

Vilde Nilsen (Norway)

Vilde Nilsen had 12 podium finishes on the World Cup circui in the 2025-2026 season, clinching her sixth overall Crystal Globe in the women’s standing category. She has silver medals from Beijing 2022 and PyeongChang 2018 as well as a bronze in the open 4x2.5km relay at Beijing 2022. She hopes to go even better at her third Paralympic Winter Games.

Shiyu Wang (China)

Shiyu Wang had a breakthrough in 2025, winning her first world title in the women’s 20km interval start freestyle sitting category in Toblach, Italy. She hopes to better her results after finishing outside the medals on her Paralympic debut at Beijing 2022.

Kendall Gretsch (USA)

Dual winter and summer athlete Kendall Gretsch is a golden girl across Para cross country, Para biathlon and Para triathlon. With a total of four Paralympic gold medals, two silvers and a bronze in her trophy cabinet already, Gretsch won gold in the women’s 12km sitting category at PyeongChang 2018.

Zebastian Modin (Sweden)

Zebastian Modin has a collection of four silver medals and four bronze medals spanning Vancouver 2010 to Beijing 2022. Following the retirement of Canadian Para cross-country legend Brian McKeever, Modin is preparing to claim his maiden gold in the men’s vision impaired category.

Inkki Inola (Finland)

Finland’s Inkki Inola hopes the third time will be a charm in his quest for Paralympic glory when he competes at Milano Cortina 2026. Inola finished outside the podium at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics in the men’s vision impaired category. In late January, he claimed two silvers and a bronze during a World Cup event in Poland.

Taiki Kawayoke (Japan)

Taiki Kawayoke is the defending champion in the men’s long distance standing race from Beijing 2022. He netted the crystal globe in the 2024-2025 World Cup season. Watch out for a thrilling rivalry between him and Canada’s Mark Arendz in the standing category.

Karl Tabouret (France)

Karl Tabouret will make his Winter Paralympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. He had consistent podium finishes in the men’s standing category during the 2025-2026 World Cup season, overtaking more experienced rivals.

Cristian Westemaier Ribera (Brazil)

Para cross-country skier Cristian Westemaier Ribera is aiming to make history at Milano Cortina 2026 by winning Brazil’s first Winter Paralympic medal. He competed in the men’s sitting events at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, finishing outside the medals, and hopes to make history in the Italian Alps.

Discover more about Para cross-country skiing 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