Italy Shines at Milan-Cortina Paralympics: Bertagnolli Wins Gold, Medal Count Surpasses Beijing 2022
MILAN, Italy – The Italian team is experiencing a surge of success at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, surpassing their medal count from the 2022 Beijing Games and adding to their tally on Tuesday. A flurry of medals were claimed across multiple disciplines, highlighted by Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli’s gold in the visually impaired alpine skiing combined event.
Bertagnolli and Ravelli’s victory marks the third medal for Bertagnolli at these Games. The pair navigated the course with precision and speed, securing the top spot on the podium. This win is particularly significant as it’s happening on home snow, adding an extra layer of emotion to their achievement. “It’s just the beginning,” Ravelli described the experience, highlighting the unique feeling of competing in front of a home crowd.
The success didn’t stop there. Earlier in the day, Chiara Mazzel, guided by Nicola Cotti Cottini, claimed silver in the visually impaired alpine skiing combined event. Mazzel’s performance built on her previous successes at these Games, including a silver in downhill and a gold in super-G. She finished just behind Austria’s Veronika Aigner and Lilly Sammer, demonstrating the high level of competition in the event.
Federico Pelizzari added to the Italian medal haul with a silver in the standing alpine skiing combined event. This result pushes the Italian team past their seven-medal total from Beijing 2022, and puts them within reach of the national record of 13 medals set at Lillehammer in 1994.
Renè De Silvestro also secured a silver medal in the sitting alpine skiing combined event. De Silvestro finished between two Dutch athletes, Jeroen Kampschreur, who took gold, and Niels de Langen, who claimed bronze. The result further solidifies Italy’s strong performance in alpine skiing at these Games.
Beyond the alpine skiing events, Italy also found success on the ice. The Italian para ice hockey team secured a 2-1 victory over Germany. After falling behind early, the Italians battled back, tying the game in the first period and ultimately taking the lead in the second. They will now face either Japan or Slovakia in the semi-final of the placement round for fifth to eighth place.
The Games also saw a notable moment of solidarity as the first direct competition between Ukrainian and Russian athletes took place in the sitting cross-country skiing qualifications. All five Ukrainian athletes finished ahead of Russia’s Ivan Golubkov, who did not qualify for the semi-finals. In the visually impaired qualifications, Russia’s Anastasiia Bagiian secured second place, while Ukrainian athletes Oksana Shyshikova and Romana Lobasheva finished eighth and ninth respectively.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games continue to showcase remarkable athletic achievements and inspiring stories. With the Italian team exceeding expectations and the competition intensifying, the remaining days promise further excitement and drama. The Games are not only a celebration of athletic prowess but also a testament to the power of sport to unite and inspire.
In other news, Simico and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic &. Paralympic Games organizing team have initiated a knowledge-sharing exchange, focusing on accessibility and inclusive design. This collaboration highlights the importance of legacy and the sharing of best practices in creating accessible environments for all.
Unfortunately, Iranian skier Aboulfazl Khatibi was unable to participate in the Games due to circumstances related to the ongoing conflict in his country, reducing the number of participating nations to 56.