PyeongChang 2018 Sport Week: Five cross-country storylines

1. Austrian hope

Carina Edlinger burst onto the international scene last season by claiming gold alongside her guide and brother Julian in the women´s long distance and sprint visually impaired at the Finsterau 2017 World Championships. She also won bronze in the middle distance. Edlinger has also enjoyed a strong start this season by sealing four bronze medals in the first two World Cups, and will be aiming for the podium again at her maiden Winter Paralympics.

2. Oksana Masters dreams of gold

After sweeping the women’s sitting events at last year’s World Championships, the US skier turned herself into a serious contender ahead of PyeongChang 2018. She went on to finish first in the 2016-17 World Cup cross-country overall standings. Masters extended her winning streak at the beginning of the ongoing season, winning three golds and two silvers at the first two World Cups.

3. Zebastian Modin goes for his first Paralympic title

Was close to retiring following a series of injuries, but Modin produced a successful comeback at the 2017 World Championships by winning one gold and two silvers in the men’s visually impaired. He kicked off the current season with one silver and two bronze at World Cups, but is hoping to reach the top of the Paralympic podium for the first time at PyeongChang 2018.

4. Ukraine target multiple golds

The European country finished top of the cross-country medals table at the 2017 World Championships and aim to do it again at the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games. Multiple-world champion Maksym Yarovyi in the men's sitting, two-time Finsterau 2017 gold medallist Ihor Reptyukh in the men's standing and Paralympic champion Oleksandra Kononova in the women's standing are Ukraine's biggest medal hopefuls.

5. Eui Hyun Sin is the home crowd favourite

Won silver in the men's long distance sitting at his maiden World Championships in Finsterau, Germany. The South Korean did not have a good start to this season as he has not been able to reach the podium at the first two World Cups. But the 37-year-old is training hard to reach his best possible shape ahead of his home Winter Paralympics.

The Paralympic Winter Games take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from 9-18 March. Tickets can be purchased here.