Milano Cortina 2026: Best Para cross-country moments

Brazil take their country’s first Winter Paralympic medal El Salvador debut as first Winter Games Para athletes from the tropical country Jake Adicoff wins four golds to lead USA atop the Para cross-country skiing medals table 20 Mar 2026

A group of more than 10 athletes pose for a selfie on the podium

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics saw four days of Para cross-country skiing action at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium

ⒸAlex Grimm/Getty Images

By Ruth Faulkner | For the IPC

The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games featured unforgettable moments, groundbreaking achievements, and emotional highs, all taking place at stunning venues in Italy.

The Games saw four days of Para cross-country skiing action at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, with stand out moments from athletes around the world.

The USA topped the medals tally with eight gold, two silver and a bronze, followed by Russia with five gold medals.

Here are three moments from Para cross-country skiing that made the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics even more magical.

Top moment: Cristian Westemaier Ribera makes history for Brazil

Cristian Westemaier Ribera made history on 10 March, winning Brazil’s first-ever medal at the Paralympic Winter Games. Ribera claimed silver in the men’s sprint sitting event, finishing behind China’s Zixu Liu.

He was emotional after receiving the silver medal.

"I was crying because I realised that my dream came true. My dream and my family’s. After so much work and effort I managed to make my dream come true," he said.

Three athletes in a wheelchair pose for a photo on the podium — Ribera, left, earned silver in the men's sprint sitting event. China’s Zixu Liu won gold and Khazakhstan's Yerbol Khamitov took bronze. @Alexandre Battibugli/IPC

Ribera was introduced to Para cross-country skiing in 2015 as part of a project put together by the Brazilian Snow Sports Federation with the support of the International Paralympic Committee’s development arm. The project’s aim was to have a Brazilian athlete contending for a medal at the 2030 Paralympic Winter Games.

But Ribera, who made his Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, was ahead of schedule and made history four years earlier at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.

"It was always my dream. When I started to compete in this sport, I thought I would be a Paralympian. After I did that, my goal was to win a medal. And now it’s happened, so I’m very, very proud," he said.

A male athlete is competing in Para cross-country skiing using a sit-ski — Ribera was competing at his third Paralympic Winter Games. @Alexandre Battibugli/IPC

Rising star: El Salvador makes Paralympic Winter Games debut

David Chavez and Jonathan Arias made history as the first Para athletes from El Salvador to compete at either a Paralympic Winter Games or the Olympic Winter Games.

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

Chavez finished 27th in the men's 10km interval start sitting and the men's sprint sitting events, as well as a 29th place in the 20km interval start sitting race.

Chavez’s place in his first Games represented an impressive feat, explained coach Rob Powers.

“We started this only two years ago, last and second to last in the world ranking. So, to see David crush a 27th ranking – we're doing a back flip right now. We wish we had our surf boards as it would be surf city right now,” Powers said.

Arias competed in two events at Milano Cortina 2026 after three months off with injury, and with only 100 days training on snow.

“I always had that dream when I was younger, to see snow, and it seemed impossible,” Arias said.

A male Para cross-country skier in the sitting category moving forward during competition — Jonathan Arias competed in two Para cross-country skiing events. @Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Read more about El Salvador's Paralympic Winter Games debut

Biggest surprise: Clean sweep for USA’s Jake Adicoff

Winning gold in any event is an unbelievable achievement, but for USA’s Jake Adicoff, in the men’s vision impaired category, the goal was for gold in every Para cross-country skiing event.

He clinched his final gold in the men's 20km interval start free vision impaired event with guide Peter Wolter, securing his clean sweep of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

“Four races, four gold medals, that was the goal. It was really hard but it was so rewarding to do it. That was my goal since four years ago, it’s been in my mind ever since then,” Adicoff said.

Adicoff also won gold in the sprint classic, 10km interval start and the mixed 4x2.5km relay alongside Oksana Masters, Sydney Peterson and Joshua Sweeney.

“It’s cool, I’m really proud of the work that I’ve done, the work that this team has done and all the support of my friends and family. I couldn’t be happier right now," Adicoff said.