Milano Cortina 2026: Para skiers go for 12 golds in alpine and cross-country on Day 4
Para alpine and Para cross-country skiing each feature six medal events on Day 4, while the wheelchair curling mixed doubles semifinalists compete in the afternoon 09 Mar 2026
Medals will be awarded on the first day of Para cross-country skiing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Para Alpine skiing progresses to its third round of medals, this time in the combined event. Day 4 also features Para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. Here is everything you need to know.
Sprint start for Para cross-country
Six champions will be crowned on the first day of Para cross-country skiing at Milano Cortina 2026. Medals will be on offer in the sprint event in sitting, standing and vision impaired categories.
After a recovery day following Para biathlon, many biathletes return to the course minus their rifles. But there will be fresh faces, including homegrown contender Giuseppe Romele, who has won six World Cup sitting races this winter. Romele also competed in triathlon at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Watch out too for Germany’s Linn Kazmaier, who took a gold, silver and bronze in the cross-country VI at Beijing 2022.
"I can ski faster now than four years ago,” she said. “Especially in sprints as I have a lot more strength. But the bigger development was in the mental side, because four years ago I was 15 years old. I was just a very shy young girl and now I’m much more mature."
Sitting athletes have a 1km track, while visually impaired and standing athletes cover 1.5km in the sprint event.
Aigners compete for medals five and six
Six medals are on offer in the Para alpine skiing combined events, where competitors combine runs in the super-G and slalom. Factored times from the two runs are combined for the final standings.
Austrian siblings Johannes and Veronika Aigner continue their quest for ten Paralympic medals in the vision impaired category.
Johannes has already topped the podium twice, and his sister has a gold and silver after two days of racing.
Veronika has had to adapt after losing sister and guide Elisabeth to injury. Her replacement is Lilly Sammer.
"When the guide is a sibling, I wouldn't say it's better, but you know each other since birth, you know exactly what the other needs,” said Veronika. “That makes the team. Lilly is also good, she is very crazy. I'm crazy too. We're always singing in the room, dancing in the room. It's good."
Teamwork always key in wheelchair curling
The inaugural wheelchair curling mixed doubles Paralympic competition reaches the semifinal stage on 10 March. China face Latvia, while world No. 1 pair Hyejin Baek and Yongsuk Lee of the Republic of Korea take on the USA on the adjacent sheet at 14:35 CET.
Baek knows the key to semifinal success.
“Our teamwork clicked well, which is why we could advance to the semifinals,” she said after Republic of Korea clinched their spot with a 10-0 win over Estonia. “I reckon the key for tomorrow and the day after will be focusing on showcasing that teamwork even more."
In the mixed teams event, the headline match will be between powerhouses China and Canada. China are going for a third consecutive gold; Canada is the only nation to have won medals at every Paralympic Winter Games. Both teams have two wins from two, so something will have to give.
Para ice hockey semifinalists in dress rehearsal
In today’s final preliminary-round matches, the four semifinalists - who are already confirmed - all play each other in the afternoon. The USA face China, while Canada play Czechia.
Defenceman Jack Wallace knows what his USA team are up against.
“[China are] definitely a better team than the last time we played them in Beijing,” he said. “Their team skating, their team speed has improved quite a bit. Their structured play is way better.
“They've done a great job of learning the game and getting better as a team, playing together, not just relying on their best player, 17 (Yifeng Shen). They're a fantastic team, and it's definitely going to be a challenge, so we’ve got to come ready to go.”
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
