Winter Paralympics Overview
The Winter Paralympics will feature nearly 660 athletes representing 50 countries, competing for 79 medals across six sports at Milan-Cortina.
Competitions include Para-Alpine skiing, Para-biathlon, Para-cross-country skiing, Para-ice hockey, Para-snowboard, and wheelchair curling.
Great Britain's delegation comprises 25 athletes, blending experienced competitors with promising newcomers.
The Games commenced on Wednesday, 4 March, with wheelchair curling matches preceding the opening ceremony on Friday, 6 March.
Below is a detailed day-by-day guide to the events and notable participants. All times are GMT and subject to change.
Day 0: Friday, 6 March
Daily Highlights
The wheelchair curling mixed doubles event continued with four matches in the morning, marking the sole competitive action on Friday.
British duo Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean secured their second consecutive victory after an initial two losses in the round-robin phase.
A narrow 5-4 win against the United States placed them in a five-way tie for second place after four matches. Each team will play seven matches, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.
The Winter Paralympics were hosted in Italy for the first time in 2006.
The sporting events paused for the opening ceremony at the Verona Arena, the same venue as the Olympic closing ceremony, starting at 19:00.
Organisers describe the ceremony as a blend of spectacle, culture, and hospitality, aiming to "showcase the beauty of Italy's monuments, the talent of its people, and the warm welcome extended to delegations from all over the world."
Performers included The Police drummer Stewart Copeland, Italian singer Mimi Caruso, and DJ Miky Bionic, the first DJ worldwide to perform with an advanced bionic hand.
Good to Know
Italy last hosted the Winter Paralympics in 2006 in Turin, featuring 474 athletes from 38 countries competing in 58 medal events across five sports. Wheelchair curling debuted, with Great Britain winning silver.
Russia led the medal table with 13 golds, 13 silvers, and seven bronzes. Mexico and Mongolia participated for the first time.
It was Italy's second time hosting the Paralympics, following the 1960 Summer Games in Rome.
Day 1: Saturday, 7 March
Medal events: Para-Alpine skiing (women's and men's downhill in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories); Para-biathlon (women's and men's sprint in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories)
The first medals will be awarded at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina, with women's and men's Para-Alpine skiing downhill events across all three categories.
In the men's visually impaired downhill (09:50), Neil Simpson and his brother and guide Andrew aim for a strong start, despite this likely not being their best event. They have achieved several World Cup podiums this season.
Fred Warburton and James Hannan will also compete in this event at their Paralympic debut. Warburton, a former decathlete diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition six years ago, made his first race start in February 2025.
The women's visually impaired race begins at 08:30. Although not the strongest event for Menna Fitzpatrick and guide Katie Guest, Fitzpatrick won a world title in 2019. Fitzpatrick, Britain's most decorated Winter Paralympian with six medals, has recovered from a broken leg and knee injury over the past 18 months. Guest makes her Games debut after missing Beijing due to a positive Covid test.
Competitors in the visually impaired categories follow guides who communicate via radio.
Canada's Mollie Jepsen defends her women's standing title. A notable competitor is Varvara Voronchikhina, one of six Russians competing under their national flags after the International Paralympic Committee lifted the ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus.
The Para-snowboard program begins at 10:00 with snowboard cross qualifying rounds. Athletes race on a course featuring banks, rollers, and jumps, with two runs each; the best run determines ranking.
Scotland's Davy Zyw, believed to be the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease (MND) to compete at the Games, participates in the men's UL (upper limb) event at 10:21.
James Barnes-Miller, attending his third Games, also competes in this event, while Ollie Hill races in the men's LL2 (lower limb) at 11:03.
Para-biathlon events start with Scott Meenagh competing in the seated sprint over 7.5km (09:35), considered his strongest event, aiming for a top-five finish.
Wheelchair curling mixed doubles continue with Great Britain facing world champions Japan (13:35). The mixed team event also begins, with GB's Hugh Nibloe, Karen Aspey, Austin McKenzie, Graeme Stewart, and Stewart Pimblett playing Slovakia (08:35) and the USA (17:35).
Para-ice hockey commences with the USA and Canada playing Italy (16:05) and Slovakia (19:35), respectively.
Para-biathlon was revamped after Beijing 2022, with athletes now competing in sprint pursuit, sprint (7.5km), and individual (12.5km) distances, replacing the previous 6km, 10km, and 12.5km events.
Ukraine is the most successful Paralympic nation in the sport, with 23 gold, 28 silver, and 28 bronze medals, including three podium sweeps four years ago.
The women's seated event (09:00) features American Paralympic legends Oksana Masters and Kendall Gretsch, both gold medalists in Summer and Winter Games across multiple sports.
Day 2: Sunday, 8 March
Medal events: Para-biathlon (women's and men's individual in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories); Para-snowboard (women's SBX SB-LL2; men's SBX LL1, LL2, UL)
Snowboard cross medals will be decided in Cortina following Saturday's qualifying rounds. Races begin at 10:00, with the top two from each four-athlete heat advancing to finals scheduled between 11:32 and 11:49.
American Kate Delson is the favorite in the women's LL2 division, having dominated the season. She faces competition from 51-year-old Beijing gold medalist Cecile Hernandez of France, 2018 champion Brenna Huckaby of the USA, and strong Chinese athletes.
In the men's UL, James Barnes-Miller aims to contend after several World Cup podiums, with Chinese athletes, led by defending champion Ji Lijia, expected to be formidable opponents. Davy Zyw also competes in this division.
Ollie Hill, who qualified for the knockout rounds in 2018, competes in the men's LL2 division.
Canada's defending champion Tyler Turner leads the men's LL1 World Cup rankings, challenged by Americans Noah Elliott and Mike Schultz, the Beijing silver medalist.
Para-biathlon continues with Scott Meenagh targeting a top-eight finish in the men's individual sitting event (09:30), which involves a 12.5km race with four shooting range visits.
Wheelchair curling mixed doubles sees GB face China (13:35), while the mixed team confronts 2022 bronze medalists Canada (08:35).
Italian Para-snowboarder Emanuel Perathoner seeks his first Paralympic medal in the LL2 event. A two-time Olympian in snowboard cross, Perathoner suffered a severe knee injury in 2021, requiring four surgeries and a full knee replacement. Classified as a Para-snowboarder in 2022, he is now a three-time world champion and has dominated his division this season.
Day 3: Monday, 9 March
Medal events: Para-Alpine skiing (women's and men's Super-G in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories)
Scottish skier Neil Simpson defends his men's Super-G visually impaired title at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre from 09:50. Simpson and guide Andrew made history in 2022 as the first British men to win a Winter Games skiing gold medal.
Simpson also won the 2023 World Championships Super-G with guide Rob Poth. Austrian Johannes Aigner and Italian Giacomo Bertagnolli, silver and bronze medalists in Beijing and top World Cup contenders, present strong competition.
Debutants Fred Warburton and James Hannan also compete for Great Britain.
Menna Fitzpatrick, who earned silver in Beijing and bronze in Pyeongchang, faces tough rivals including Austrian Veronika Aigner and Elina Stary in the women's visually impaired event starting at 08:30.
Norway's Jesper Pedersen defends his men's sitting crown, with Dutch Jeroen Krampschreur and Canadian Kurt Oatway among challengers. Japan's Momoka Muraoka aims to retain her women's seated title against Germany's Anna-Lena Forster, Spain's Audrey Pascual Seco, and Dutch veteran Barbara van Bergen.
Wheelchair curling mixed doubles conclude with GB facing Italy (13:35), while the mixed team plays Korea (08:35) and Sweden (17:35).
Para-ice hockey continues with the USA versus Germany (16:05) and Canada against Japan (19:35).
Great Britain has participated in every Winter Paralympics since 1976, securing its first gold in Sochi 2014 when Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans won the Super-G visually impaired event.
Gallagher, the first athlete from Northern Ireland at the Games, debuted in Vancouver 2010 and retired in 2021 after earning multiple World Championship medals.
Day 4: Tuesday, 10 March
Medal events: Para-Alpine skiing (women's and men's Alpine Combined in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories); Para-cross-country skiing (women's and men's sprint classic in visually impaired, standing, seated categories)
The Alpine Combined, formerly the Super Combined, includes a Super-G run followed by a slalom run to determine medalists.
Neil Simpson won bronze in the men's visually impaired event last time; Austrian Johannes Aigner aims to improve on his silver. Italy's Giacomo Bertagnolli leads local hopes, while Canada's Kalle Ericsson and Poland's Michal Golas have impressed this season.
Britons Fred Warburton and guide James Hannan continue their debut Games.
In the women's visually impaired event, Menna Fitzpatrick won bronze four years ago. Austrian Elina Stary and Veronika Aigner, along with Italy's Chiara Mazzel, are strong contenders.
Germany's Anna-Lena Forster defends her women's sitting title, with Spain's Audrey Pascual Seco as a major challenger. Arthur Bauchet of France and Ebba Aarsjoe of Sweden defend their standing titles.
Wheelchair curling mixed doubles aim for semi-finals (13:35), while the mixed team faces Italy (08:35).
Para-ice hockey preliminary rounds conclude with the USA versus China (12:35) and Canada against the Czech Republic (16:05).
Brazilian Cristian Ribera seeks to win his country's first Winter Paralympic medal in the men's sitting sprint (qualification 10:05, final 12:29). Training with roller skis due to limited snow, Ribera narrowly missed the final four years ago and has since achieved World Cup success.
His sister Eduarda recently competed in the Olympic cross-country skiing events.
Day 5: Wednesday, 11 March
Medal events: Para-cross-country skiing (women's and men's 10km interval start classic in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories); Wheelchair curling (mixed doubles)
Great Britain aims for its first wheelchair curling medal in the inaugural mixed doubles final at 13:35, with the bronze-medal match held simultaneously in Cortina.
The mixed team round-robin continues with GB facing defending champions China (08:05) and Latvia (19:05).
Cross-country skiers compete in 10km interval events, a time trial format.
Men's visually impaired category will see a new champion following Canadian Brian McKeever's retirement. American Jake Adicoff, who earned two silvers behind McKeever in Beijing, aims for gold. Adicoff, who lost sight due to prenatal chickenpox, is world champion and has multiple World Cup wins this season.
Czech teenager Simona Bubenickova and Germany's defending champion Linn Kazmaier are strong contenders in the women's visually impaired event, while US athletes Kendall Gretsch and Oksana Masters compete in the women's sitting race.
Norwegian Ragnhild Myklebust is the most successful Winter Paralympian ever, with 22 gold medals across cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ice sledge speed skating. Diagnosed with polio at age two, she debuted in 1988 and accumulated 27 medals before retiring in 2002.
Day 6: Thursday, 12 March
Medal events: Para-Alpine skiing (women's giant slalom in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories)
The women's giant slalom features two runs starting at 08:00, with visually impaired, standing, and seated divisions in that order. The second run begins at 11:00.
Menna Fitzpatrick won silver in this event in Pyeongchang but missed the podium in Beijing, where Veronika Aigner claimed gold. Aigner has won three of four World Cup giant slalom races this season, with compatriot Elina Stary winning the other.
Britain's Hester Poole, aged 18, makes her Paralympic debut with guide Ali Hall. American 16-year-old Meg Gustafson, guided by her brother Spencer, is the youngest competitor.
Ebba Aarsjoe of Sweden, who missed finishing her second run four years ago despite leading after the first, leads the giant slalom World Cup standings this season. France's Aurelie Richard and Germany's Andrea Rothfuss are also contenders.
Aarsjoe was born with a condition causing muscle reduction in her right leg.
Wheelchair curling round robin concludes, with GB playing Norway (17:35). Norway is ranked fourth globally and includes Jostein Stordahl, competing in his ninth Games.
Para-ice hockey classification games for fifth to eighth place take place at 13:35 and 18:05.
Para-ice hockey, introduced in 1994 and developed in Sweden in the 1960s, features mixed teams with six players on ice, including the goalie. Players use sledges with two blades and two sticks for movement and puck handling. Games consist of three 15-minute periods.
Great Britain competed in the sport's Paralympic debut, finishing fourth, but last appeared in 2006, finishing seventh.
Two female athletes compete this year: Japan's Akari Funkunishi and Slovakia's Michaela Hozakova, with efforts ongoing to increase female participation and establish a future women's competition.
Day 7: Friday, 13 March
Medal events: Para-Alpine skiing (men's giant slalom in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories); Para-biathlon (women's and men's sprint pursuit in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories)
The men's giant slalom consists of two runs starting at 08:00 and 11:30, with visually impaired athletes going first, followed by standing and seated categories.
Austrian Johannes Aigner aims to defend his visually impaired title, while Italian Giacomo Bertagnolli, world champion and Beijing silver medalist, and Canada's Kalle Ericsson are strong contenders.
Neil Simpson, with guide Rob Poth, Fred Warburton with James Hannan, and debutants 19-year-old Sam Cozens with guide Adam Hall compete for Great Britain.
France's Arthur Bauchet seeks to upgrade his bronze in the standing event, challenged by compatriot Jules Segers and Switzerland's Robin Cuche. Scottish 16-year-old Dom Allen debuts in this race.
Great Britain aims to reach the wheelchair curling mixed team semi-finals at 09:05. The last semi-final appearance was in 2014, with the team winning bronze after defeating China.
Scott Meenagh completes his Para-biathlon campaign in the men's sprint pursuit seated event (qualifying 09:15; final 11:45). Missed shots incur a 20-second penalty instead of a penalty loop. Meenagh placed seventh at the 2023 World Championships and has multiple top-eight World Cup finishes this season.
In visually impaired biathlon, Germany's Leonie Walter and Ukraine's Oleksandr Kazik aim to add Paralympic titles to their 2025 world crowns.
Canada targets a double victory in the standing division through Natalie Wilkie and five-time Paralympian Mark Arendz, both with World Cup wins this season.
Para-ice hockey semi-finals occur at 13:35 and 18:05, with the USA and Canada expected to feature prominently.
In Para-biathlon, athletes do not carry rifles during skiing but receive them at the range. Visually impaired competitors use rifles emitting sound signals to aid aiming; target sizes are 21mm for visually impaired and 13mm for physical disability categories, both at 10 meters.
Day 8: Saturday, 14 March
Medal events: Para-Alpine skiing (women's slalom in visually impaired, standing, sitting categories); Para-cross-country skiing (mixed and open 4x2.5km relays); Para-snowboard (women's banked slalom SB-LL2; men's banked slalom LL1, LL2, UL); Wheelchair curling (mixed team)
Para-snowboarders compete in the banked slalom, racing individually against the clock on a winding course with tight turns. Each athlete has two runs; the best time determines ranking.
Britain's Nina Sparks becomes the first female Paralympic snowboarder for the country in the women's LL2 event, with runs at 09:00 and 10:50.
Ollie Hill, who won Britain's first Paralympic snowboard medal (bronze) in this event four years ago, competes again in the men's LL2 division at 10:06 and 11:56.
James Barnes-Miller aims for a medal in the men's UL event, facing strong Chinese competitors. Matt Hamilton debuts in this division, and Davy Zyw competes in his second event.
The women's Para-Alpine skiing program concludes with the slalom across visually impaired, standing, and seated divisions, with runs at 08:00 and 12:00.
Menna Fitzpatrick narrowly missed a med...
