The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games are officially underway, and the first day of competition has already produced exciting performances and an early look at the medal standings.
After Day 1 on March 7, Ukraine and China emerged as the early leaders on the 2026 Winter Paralympics medal table, each collecting six total medals as athletes competed across Para biathlon and Para alpine skiing events.
The opening day featured several thrilling races and historic performances as nations began their pursuit of Paralympic glory.
2026 Winter Paralympics Medal Count (After Day 1 - March 7)
1. Ukraine - 3 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze (6 Total)
2. China - 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze (6 Total)
3. Germany - 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 3 Bronze (4 Total)
4. Canada - 0 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze (3 Total)
5. Austria - 2 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze (2 Total)
6. United States - 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze (2 Total)
7. France - 0 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Bronze (2 Total)
8. Italy - 0 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (2 Total)
9. Norway - 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze (1 Total)
10. Switzerland - 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze (1 Total)
Ukraine and China Set the Early Pace
Ukraine's strong start was fueled by standout performances in Para biathlon, where athletes delivered multiple podium finishes.
Taras Rad secured gold in the men's sitting sprint, while Oleksandra Kononova captured gold in the women's standing sprint. Ukraine also earned another gold in the men's vision-impaired sprint, helping the country surge to the top of the medal standings.
China also impressed on the opening day with six medals, including two gold medals in biathlon events, placing the nation just behind Ukraine in the standings based on gold medal count.
Team USA's Early Success
The United States also celebrated a strong opening day thanks to Paralympic legend Oksana Masters, who captured gold in the women's sitting sprint biathlon. The victory marked her 20th Paralympic medal, further cementing her legacy as the most decorated Winter Paralympian in U.S. history.
Fellow American Kendall Gretsch finished just behind Masters to claim the silver medal, giving Team USA a one-two finish in the race.
Outside the biathlon events, the U.S. sled hockey team also delivered a commanding performance, defeating host nation Italy 14-1 in its opening game of the tournament.
Alpine Skiing Highlights
The first day of Para alpine skiing downhill events also produced several memorable moments.
Austria celebrated a remarkable achievement as siblings Johannes Aigner and Veronika Aigner both won gold medals in the vision-impaired downhill races, marking one of the most memorable family achievements of the opening day.
Other alpine gold medalists included Anna-Lena Forster of Germany, Ebba Årsjö of Sweden, and Jesper Pedersen of Norway.
Overall, athletes from more than a dozen nations reached the podium on Day 1, demonstrating the global competitiveness of the Games.
A Global Celebration of Determination
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, taking place from March 6 to March 15, feature 611 athletes from 55 countries competing across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.
Beyond the medal count, the Paralympics highlight stories of perseverance, courage, and resilience as athletes from around the world overcome significant challenges to compete on the international stage.
As the Games continue throughout the week, the medal standings are expected to shift as new champions emerge and more events unfold across Italy.
